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Residents press township over aesthetics, runoff and 24/7 operation as supervisors recommend 420 Bull Avenue site plan
Summary
After a lengthy public hearing, residents raised aesthetics, runoff and noise concerns about a proposed towing/impound at 420 Bull Avenue. The Planning Commission recommended approval contingent on satisfying review comments and the board moved to recommend approval to the supervisors with those conditions.
The Harris Township Planning Commission and residents spent more than an hour debating a proposed towing and impound operation at 420 Bull Avenue before the board voted to recommend approval contingent upon addressing outstanding review comments.
Staff said the property is changing use from a former beverage distributor to a service establishment, and that the planning commission reviewed the site plan on Feb. 18 and recommended approval subject to satisfactory completion of outstanding review comments. John Seth of Pentair Engineering, representing the applicant, told the board, “We're not adding any pavement,” and said vehicles would be stored on existing pavement, with a fence and landscaping to screen the lot.
Neighbors and civic‑group representatives pushed back on the plan. Dottie Yukish of the Bolesburg Village Conservancy urged officials to “consider this corridor as people enter town and think about the aesthetics of what they're seeing,” and Elizabeth Ritter (also of the conservancy) flagged a set of state statutes — including the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Act and the Used Oil and Recycling Act — and asked if those had been considered. Several residents repeatedly raised fears about fluids reaching the adjacent feeder to Spring Creek and noted the property is near a FEMA floodplain.
On operational questions, the applicant said the site would serve passenger vehicles and that “any vehicles that have been damaged from an accident ... would be brought inside the building” rather than stored outdoors. Residents remained concerned about 24/7 operations and potential long‑term outdoor storage; one board exchange clarified that the site plan includes a note prohibiting long‑term storage of unexpected vehicles and that, as described, the intended program is short‑term impoundment rather than a wrecking yard.
Staff and supervisors discussed enforcement and outside agency oversight. The township solicitor said external agencies such as DEP would investigate environmental complaints if there were a noticed problem, and that the township could investigate and, if necessary, seek enforcement or warrants for inspection where ordinance violations were alleged.
After public comment, Supervisor Frank (moved) recommended the board forward the 420 Bull Avenue site plan to the Board of Supervisors with a contingency: that all review comments in the zoning officer’s 02/07/2025 letter be satisfactorily addressed. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
What's next: The Planning Commission’s recommendation to the Board of Supervisors is conditioned on the applicant addressing the outstanding review comments; the board expressly avoided a zoning change that would alter property rights and noted that any zoning change would require a separate, formal process. The township retained enforcement avenues for complaints about runoff or unlawful storage, and neighbors asked the applicant and staff to consider additional screening or enhanced fencing (visual slats or a privacy fence) to reduce visual impacts.
