• Home
  • Articles
  • Contact

Wattsburg Solar Project

What you need to know

Does Venango Township Want You to Know About This Project and Public Hearing?

September 16, 2023 by Paul Crowe

The information found on one of the Venango Township public notice notification signs

Whenever a Pennsylvania township or municipality is going to hold a public hearing for rezoning or conditional use on a particular property or several properties, the procedure is to post two notices in the newspaper of general circulation for the area in question, usually what is called the “newspaper of record,” and also to post signs around the properties at regular intervals so anyone passing by will see the sign and take notice.

The notice requirement from the PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPALITIES PLANNING CODE is quoted below:

“Public notice,” notice published once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. Such notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and the particular nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing. The first publication shall not be more than 30 days and the second publication shall not be less than seven days from the date of the hearing.

The newspaper of general circulation or the newspaper of record for Wattsburg and most all municipalities in Erie County is usually the Erie Times News, however it seems Venango Township chose the Corry Journal, or so I’m told, I have not seen the notice and can’t look at back issues online. It may be there, perhaps someone can look and confirm if they have a copy from the past few weeks.

Signs meant to notify the public or fulfill a requirement?

What is really interesting, however, are the signs posted on township properties where the solar work will be performed and the conditional use permit will apply. The sign at the top of this article shows what is on one of the signs, not very informative, but the basic information is there. But take a look at what you would see driving by. Would you stop your car, get out and walk over to that sign, or just ignore it and drive on? You might think if it was important it would be bigger, so you probably continue on your drive.

Here is one of the signs from the road.
Here is one of the signs from the road.

Here’s another one so you don’t think it was just one:

Another small sign off in the distance, unreadable from the road.
Another small sign off in the distance, unreadable from the road.

This is embarrassing. This is what is supposed to notify you of a major project and a request for a conditional use permit?

What are some other examples of public hearing signs

Here are a few examples from Google images of signs used in other locations

If you want to check for yourself, just go to Google and search for: “public hearing notification sign.”

This needs to be done right or not at all

The supervisors should re-post all of the properties with signs readable from the road and advertise a proper public notice so everyone is able to find it and read it, but then, maybe they would prefer you don’t show up.

Remember, September 20th at 6PM. If you care, be there.

Filed Under: Wattsburg Solar Project Tagged With: Venango Township

Subscribe to Wattsburg Solar Project

Be the first to know! Get an email notice when something is new.

Like this website? Spread the word. Tell everyone about WattsburgSolarProject.com!
« What is the Wattsburg Solar Project?
Description and Details of the Wattsburg Solar Project »

Subscribe to Wattsburg Solar Project

Be the first to know! Get an email notice when something is new.

Looking for something?


Facebook Groups

Wattsburg Neighborhood Watch
No Solar Farm - Save Wattsburg

PA Sunshine Act

PA Sunshine Act
PA Sunshine Act FAQ

PA Municipalities Planning Code

PA Municipalities Planning Code

Solar Tax Credits

Solar ITC and PTC

PA Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard

PA Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard

Wattsburg Solar Ordinance

Wattsburg Solar Ordinance
Wattsburg zoning amendment – pending

Regional, state and solar stories of interest

A Simple Illustration of Why Solar Energy Fails on the Grid

Federal solar subsidies race on in Pennsylvania

Wattsburg solar farm battle not done yet. Developer appeals decision blocking construction

Robert Bryce recognizes Venango Township rejection of solar farm project

Venango Township supervisors reject solar farm proposal

Venango Township planners reject application to build solar farm along Jones Road

Solar stocks tumble to 3-year low

Venango residents say proposed solar farm would destroy the character of rural area


Recent comments

Comment on Venango Township Supervisors Planning to Approve Wilson Solar Settlement? by Nolan Crane
Comment on Venango Township Supervisors Planning to Approve Wilson Solar Settlement? by Barry Dean Raun
Comment on Venango Township Supervisors Planning to Approve Wilson Solar Settlement? by Fed Up
Comment on Venango Township Supervisors Planning to Approve Wilson Solar Settlement? by Kelly Giewont

Our PA legislators

Senator Dan Laughlin
Representative Jake Banta

Our US representative

Representative Mike Kelly
Representative Mike Kelly Erie office

Why solar developers never understand

It is difficult to get a man to understand
something, when his salary depends upon
his not understanding it.

~ Upton Sinclair

It’s not ON-demand, it’s NO-demand

Solar energy is 'no-demand' electricity.
If the sun isn't shining
and you demand electricity,
the answer is no.

Unfortunately

The less you know about grid scale solar
The more you'll like it

We Support American Energy Independence

Oil, coal, natural gas, hydroelectricity and nuclear power - all produced in the United States, can provide all of our country's affordable, efficient, reliable and on demand energy needs for centuries to come.

Copyright © 2025 · Wattsburg Solar Project · Website by Crowe Computer Services
This website proudly Made in the USA!
Made in the USA