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East Bradford EAC reviews Chester County climate actions, flags ground‑mounted solar and tree protections
Summary
The East Bradford Environmental Advisory Council reviewed recommended starting actions from the Chester County Climate Action Plan, noting the township already adopts many high-priority measures but could ease permitting for ground‑mounted solar and consider targeted tree and meadow strategies.
The East Bradford Township Environmental Advisory Council met on May 18 and reviewed the Chester County Planning Commission’s recommended starting actions for the county’s Climate Action Plan. Chair Paul Lewis and EAC members said the township already has taken many of the plan’s high‑priority steps and discussed targeted edits to local rules.
Kathy Bergmann, an EAC member, told the council that rooftop solar permitting in the township is straightforward, but current ground‑mounted solar requirements are more restrictive and could be amended to make permitting easier. Members noted that because there is very little new construction in East Bradford, changing building codes would have limited near‑term effect. The council also observed that an Energy Performance Policy for large nonresidential buildings would apply to only about "2–3" buildings in the township and therefore would not produce large energy savings locally.
On transportation and waste, members praised the township’s progress: regional trail expansion and promotion of sidewalks, purchase decisions that consider fuel efficiency, and a single contracted waste hauler with trash pickup limited to once per week. The council also highlighted open‑space preservation, riparian buffer plantings, and a tree ordinance that requires tree replacement when 20–50% of trees are removed and requires a variance if more than 50% are removed.
EAC members discussed the idea of converting select mowed park areas to meadows to reduce maintenance and improve habitat but noted that establishing meadows requires more time and labor. The council asked staff to continue reviewing county recommendations and said it will prepare formal recommendations on amendments (for example, to ground‑mounted solar standards) and on implementation steps for items that fit local capacity.
The EAC will consider these recommendations as it reviews the township’s Sustainability Plan and in advance of its next meeting on June 22, 2026.
