Happy Valley Adventure Bureau seeks Harris Township letters for Route 45 scenic byway designation

Representatives from the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau asked the Harris Township Board of Supervisors on May 12 to consider providing a municipal letter of support as the bureau pursues legislative designation of State Route 45 as a Pennsylvania scenic byway.

Leslie Kisner, the bureau’s public relations director, said the designation is intended to "support local planning efforts, protect and enhance visual quality, and promote tourism and economic development along designated routes." Josiah Jones, the bureau’s chief operating officer, described the program’s key constraint: future billboards would be prohibited within a designated corridor, though existing billboards would be grandfathered. Jones said the group tried a federal grant in January 2024 to hire an expert consultant but, after failing to secure that grant, decided to pursue the legislative route and will seek letters of support from municipalities and businesses once legislative sponsors are identified.

Board members asked about potential effects on viewsheds and whether the designation limits other signage or local land‑use controls. The bureau representatives said the state byway program mainly addresses advertising billboards and that land‑use control beyond signage remains the authority of local municipalities. The bureau said staff would return to the municipalities along the corridor with specific requests and a timeline, likely after the state budget is finalized and legislative sponsors are secured.

The board indicated preliminary support for providing a letter of support in concept and asked staff to follow up when the bureau requests the formal endorsement.

The bureau named several partners and consultants it has worked with during the process and emphasized preservation, promotion and funding opportunities associated with a byway designation.