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South Whitehall adopts Walbert Avenue parking ban to allow sidewalk work; approves PPL utility relocation
Summary
The board adopted an ordinance prohibiting parking on a defined span of Walbert Avenue to enable a sidewalk extension and approved a separate resolution granting PPL rights to relocate utilities required by the SR 309 betterment. Staff said utility relocation will not prevent the sidewalk project; both votes were unanimous.
South Whitehall Township commissioners voted unanimously March 19 to adopt an ordinance prohibiting parking at all times on a specified portion of State Route 106 (Walbert Avenue) to implement a sidewalk-extension project and to adopt a resolution authorizing a right-of-way agreement with PPL Electric Utilities to relocate poles and guy wires needed for a PennDOT roadway widening.
Township staff said the sidewalk gap lies across Jandel Land Company property adjacent to the Regency subdivision and that PennDOT’s highway-occupancy permit required a no-parking restriction near the new curb alignment. Staff described planned curb realignment and removal of a grass strip to create a continuous pedestrian corridor.
Tom Patruchi, township manager, said staff worked directly with the landowner, Jandel Land Company, and PennDOT to design the sidewalk extension and that the no-parking ordinance is necessary so local police can enforce the restriction once installed. On the PPL resolution, Patruchi said the work “includes the relocation of an anchor and a guy wire on township property following the installation of a new utility pole along Walbert Avenue.” He added the utility moves will not impact the township’s portion of the sidewalk work.
Both the parking-ordinance amendment and the PPL right-of-way resolution were approved 5–0.
What it means: the ordinance provides legal authority for enforcement of no-parking adjacent to the sidewalk gap; the PPL agreement clears a necessary step for utility relocation tied to the State Route 309 widening project.
