Electric vehicle chargers up for discussion in North Wales code update

The next few months could bring a key step toward an update of North Wales Borough’s codebook, and they’re looking for feedback from residents before doing so.

Council members heard an update Tuesday on recent talks by the town’s planning commission on an update to the town’s ordinances, with a focus on one topic in particular.

“We had a very extensive conversation on electric vehicle charging stations,” said councilman Mark Tarlecki.

In February council heard the results of a survey conducted in late 2024 asking for feedback on an update to the ‘North Wales 2040’ comprehensive plan, which was adopted in 2018 after a series of public input meetings over the prior two years. Since the 2040 plan was adopted, council and the planning commission have taken up several of its recommendations and tackled several other projects, while hearing about the priorities residents suggested should be tackled first.

During their early March meeting, Tarlecki told council, the planning commission discussed their review of the town’s subdivisions and land development ordinance, which spells out the process that all land development projects must undergo to secure approvals. The planning commission voted to send an updated draft of that code to the town’s engineer for their vetting, then use the engineer’s comments to develop a final version.

Part of that SALDO update will address electric vehicle chargers, Tarlecki said, likely based on a model ordinance currently being developed by the Montgomery County Planning Commission, which the borough could then adapt and modify to set out rules and regs for the town.

Those codes would not govern private chargers for residents to plug in their EVs at their own houses, but set standards and rules for chargers on public streets or parking lots, Tarlecki said, citing the Tesla electric vehicle chargers installed in 2022 at a Wawa at Welsh Road and DeKalb Pike in Upper Gwynedd as the nearest example.

“There are three types of stations that can be built, and it all depends on the rate, the amount of power, as well as how it’s going to be sited. There also has to be concern about how it’s going to be connected to the local utilities, how are people going to be charged for this — those are things we were discussing,” Tarlecki said.

The SALDO update would also include design standards for those electric chargers, which could vary based on where they’re located.

“If we decide to put EV stations in the historic district, how is it going to look? That was another topic,” he said.

Also discussed by the planning commission: whether a traffic study required for certain major projects should be expanded.

“It’s now going to be called a ‘traffic improvement study,’ changing the terminology, and then it requires working with the borough engineer,” to identify any possible infrastructure upgrades that could be required by certain projects, Tarlecki said.

Planning commission meetings are held at borough hall at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, and that group is always open to input from residents.

“Unfortunately, we’re usually the only ones there. Unless it’s one of those ‘not in my backyard’ deals,” Tarlecki said.

Parking space approved

Council also voted unanimously to grant a request for a handicapped parking space on the 100 block of North Second Street, but with a warning.

“This is adjacent to the municipal lot, and once the arts center opens up, we did indicate that if there is a need for somebody to utilize the parking space, that’s maybe visiting or seeing a show in the evening, they would be able to utilize it,” said borough Manager Christine Hart.

The resident who requested the space has been told that arts centers users would be permitted to park there too, if they have the appropriate tags.

Arts center update

Hart also gave an update on the renovation work at the art center, saying it’s “wrapping up nicely” after delays caused by winter weather.

“We had little things happen, which I think were good, because we could see any deficiencies within the building” cause by snow, ice and rain, she said.

Over the next two weeks, staff will develop a punch list of items remaining for the project contractor to complete, then will do a final walk-through of the facility.

Land development plan in works

The manager previewed for council a land development application filed for 201-205 North Main Street, on the corner of Main and School Streets.

“It is for a use variance, coinciding with a subdivision. It’s in the commercial business district, and they are asking for a variance to build residential as part of the subdivision,” Hart said.

As she spoke, the manager showed a Google Maps overhead view, then zoomed in to a street-level image, showing a three-story residential building on the corner, adjacent to a parking lot at the neighboring property at 205. In a recent borough zoning update adopted in 2023, the manager said, the properties in question were part of the area added to the town’s commercial district, allowing for more uses there.

“They’re asking to build a residential property here, which is technically in the commercial business district, but the use they’re asking for is residential,” Hart said.

Those plans will likely be vetted by the planning commission in April, and could then be heard by the borough’s zoning hearing board in May, she said. County property records indicate both 201 and 205 are owned by Donna Mengel, the onetime president of the North Penn school board, longtime member recently reappointed to the borough’s water authority board, and cofounder of the Lamb Foundation which provides affordable housing and support services to senior citizens and adult individuals with mental, physical, and developmental disabilities who would otherwise be homeless.

North Wales borough council next meets at 7 p.m. on March 25 at the borough municipal building, 300 School Street. For more information visit www.NorthWalesBorough.org

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