Plans for Street Lighting on Parkview Avenue Hit Snag

Plans to install four street lights on Parkview Avenue hit a snag Wednesday night, when at least one neighbor said he opposed the proposal.

Neal and Rebecca Ream, who have lived on Parkview Avenue for seven years, had approached township commissioners in January about the need for lighting in their neighborhood, off Chew Street, to deter crime. They initially asked for a light in the alley behind their home, but after a discussion with the commissioners back then, the township decided to explore full lighting along the avenue.

However, Ed Thompson, who lives on Parkview Avenue, called the proposal a "sneaky deal" as he addressed the South Whitehall Board of Commissioners on Wednesday night. He said he had not been initially approached by the Reams, and that he opposed the location of the lights so close to his property because of the potential glare. 

Also, he said, "I'm dead set against it, because in the long run, I'm going to end up paying for these lights." 

Thompson said he installed his own lights on his property. He complained that an alley light the Reams put up shines into his bedroom window. 

The Reams said they did their best to talk to all their neighbors about the possibility of installing lighting and that most support the proposal to add light poles along Parkview Avenue. They said their main concern was to provide sufficient lighting to deter crime in the neighborhood.

Commissioner Tori Morgan said more discussion was needed. She expressed hope that the neighbors could reach consensus, perhaps by changing the potential locations of the light poles along the street. She cautioned to keep personal feelings out of the discussion.

"We want to solve your problem and help you," Commissioner Dale Daubert said. "But we want to avoid a civil war."

Ed Ream acknowledged that he did not want to create harm in his efforts to do good for the neighborhood.

Board President Brad Osborne directed Community Development Director Jeffrey Higgins to work with the neighbors and PPL to determine a possible solution. "I'm confident we'll come up with a good plan," Osborne said.

Higgins said he would try to "work something out." He said that if the plan moves forward, it would be possible to install three lights instead of four and still light up the area. He said the poles could be spaced differently as well. 

"I'll try to influence PPL to put in the lights in the least offensive way," he said.

If the plan is eventually approved, the township would have to pay $2,000 toward installation and about $20 a month per light in electricity costs, according to information provided at the meeting.