Planners Approve Relaxed Setback for Fencing

The Upper Southampton Township Planning Commission agreed with plans to relax the current limits on distance from the roadway for fencing on township property.

At their meeting Monday evening, the commission considered an ordinance that would relax the current setback requirements 10 feet for placement of fences, backstops and poles on parks and public recreation facilities. 

The ordinance currently on the books in Southampton stipulates that these structures must be placed a minimum of 50 feet from the center of the roadway. The new ordinance would allow for these structures, when built on public parkland, to be just 40 feet from the right of way. 

If this new ordinance is adopted by the board of supervisors, it will allow the township enough space to construct a fence to surround and protect the on Street Road.

According to comments at the meeting, the township plans  to construct a four-foot-tall, black vinyl chain-link fence to .

Among other language in the ordinance, some limits on constructing fences on residential properties are addressed.  Those include a mandated 10-foot setback from the sidewalk for any residential fencing and some limits on fencing for a corner property. 

The planning commission unanimously agreed upon the language in the ordinance as it was advertised and forwarded the matter to the board of supervisors for consideration.

The meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the township meeting room in the basement of the