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Commissioners raise outreach, distribution questions after staff proposes solar carport and EV chargers at Bryn Mawr lot
Summary
Staff recommended Parking Lot 14 in Bryn Mawr as the preferred site for a solar carport and associated EV-charging infrastructure; commissioners asked for neighbor outreach and data on charger usage and confirmed staff will study alternative lots if the board prefers not to site the project at Lot 14.
Commissioners discussed a newly proposed photovoltaic carport and public electric vehicle chargers for Parking Lot 14 in Bryn Mawr during the June 24 capital improvement plan workshop.
Commissioner Zollaff said the lot, located on Bryn Mawr Avenue between Pennsylvania Avenue and West Old Railroad and used by visitors to Bryn Mawr Hospital, is surrounded on three sides by residences and differs from the previously studied Ludington Library location, which has no adjacent homes. He asked staff to explain why the Ludington location was replaced by Lot 14.
Director of Public Works Paul McElhenney said staff surveyed Ludington but found it difficult and complicated to tie solar to the building infrastructure there, and that Lot 14 had the space and capacity required. He said the recommendation followed a site survey and that this is an initial suggestion, not a final decision: outreach and resident notification would begin only if the board decides to move forward. "This is the very beginning," Paul said; "If it's the desire of the board not to place this project here, then the recommendation to staff would be to take the other areas that have been surveyed and reevaluate them."
Staff emphasized efficiencies from colocating solar and charger infrastructure. A staff member, Paloma, said installing charger infrastructure at the same time as the solar project creates construction and financial efficiencies and noted that CIP funds this year already include other EV-charging projects to be distributed elsewhere in the township. "There's great efficiencies that can be gained by putting in that EV charging infrastructure while we're doing the solar project," Paloma said. Commissioners asked staff to provide data on existing public charger usage and demand to justify adding additional chargers.
The board did not vote. Staff will begin public-outreach planning if the board supports Lot 14 as a final site; otherwise, staff will re-evaluate other surveyed lots and return with alternatives. Commissioners asked that staff present usage data for the chargers already installed in town and coordinate outreach with the Bryn Mawr civic group (the next meeting is in September).
