Oley Township

Oley Township is a municipal government office serving a rural community of 3,810 residents (2020 Census) in eastern Berks County, Pennsylvania. The township office is located at 1 Rose Virginia Road, Oley Township, PA 19547, and can be reached by phone at 610-987-3423. The township covers 24.2 square miles of farmland, woodland and small villages, and the municipal building serves as the administrative center for township business, utility accounts, permits and public meetings.

The township traces its origins to 1712, when a land warrant was issued to Isaac DeTurck, one of the earliest European settlers in the Oley Valley. Township government was formally established in 1740, making Oley one of the older organized municipalities in the region. The valley attracted Pennsylvania German, Huguenot and Quaker settlers who built stone farmhouses, bank barns and outbuildings, many of which still stand and remain in use today. The villages of Oley, Pleasantville, Spangsville and Oley Furnace retain much of their historic building stock and continue to define the character of the township.

Preservation and Land Use

Oley Township is widely recognized for the depth of its agricultural preservation work. The valley's limestone soils are among the most fertile in Pennsylvania, and during the 1990s the township enacted agricultural zoning that has protected more than 6,000 acres from development. That decision has kept working farms in operation and preserved the open landscape that surrounds the villages.

Land use matters are handled through the Planning Commission, which reviews subdivision and land development applications. The township makes a zoning map available for download along with ordinance chapters covering stormwater management, floodplain regulations and the historic district. Property owners planning construction, subdivision or a change of use can review these materials before submitting an application, and township staff can direct residents to the correct forms and review process.

Historical Architectural Review Board

The Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) reviews proposed exterior work within the township's designated historic district. Its purpose is to maintain the Pennsylvania German architectural character found in areas such as Spangsville and Oley Furnace, where eighteenth and nineteenth century stonework, rooflines and window patterns are a defining feature. HARB meets monthly at 7 PM, and a dedicated HARB application is available for property owners whose projects fall within the district. Meetings are open to the public.

Township Government

Oley Township is governed by a three member Board of Supervisors: Jeffrey A. Spatz (Chairman), Lisa D. Schaeffer (Vice Chairman) and Zachary D. Wagner. The Board is supported by LTL Consultants, serving as Township Engineer, and Kenneth E. Picardi of Picardi Philips & Ottaviano, serving as Township Solicitor.

The municipal building at 1 Rose Virginia Road hosts meetings of the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, the Municipal Authority and the Historical Architectural Review Board. All of these meetings are open to the public, and residents are able to attend to follow township decisions or to raise concerns. Meeting schedules and agendas are posted through the township office.

Water and Sewer Service

The Oley Township Municipal Authority (O.T.M.A.) was established in the early 1970s and operates both the public water and wastewater systems.

• Public water is supplied by four deep wells located throughout the township, with treatment provided at each wellhead. Water is distributed from a 225,000 gallon storage tank off Lake Road.
• The water system also supports 61 fire hydrants, providing pressurized water for fire protection in the served areas.
• Wastewater is processed at the treatment plant on Tollhouse Road in the Pleasantville area, with one remote sewage pumping station serving the Meadow View subdivision.

Customers can pay water and sewer bills online through Xpress Bill Pay. Instructions for first time users are available for download from the township office, which is useful for residents setting up an account for the first time.

Roads and Public Works

The Roads Department maintains 50.87 miles of township roadways and 22 bridges. Crew responsibilities include snow plowing and winter road treatment, shoulder mowing, pothole repair and sign installation. The road crew also assists the Municipal Authority with water main and sewer line repairs, which allows the township to respond to utility breaks without waiting on outside contractors. Given the rural road network and the number of small bridges crossing the Manatawny Creek and its tributaries, bridge inspection and maintenance form a steady part of the department's workload.

Police Protection

Police coverage is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week by the Central Berks Police Department, a regional force located at 2147 Perkiomen Avenue, Reading, PA 19606. The non-emergency line is 610-655-4911. The township office handles a range of police related forms, including alarm device applications, disability parking placard applications, citizen complaint forms, requests for police services and vacation notices for residents who will be away from home and want their property checked.

Permits and Applications

The township office issues and accepts a variety of permits and applications. These include:

• Electrical, plumbing and well permits
• Zoning permits and uniform construction code permits
• Curb, sidewalk and driveway entrance work permits
• Workers compensation coverage forms required with certain construction applications
• Yard sale permits

Applicants should note that ICC code changes took effect on 2/14/2022, which may affect construction plans and inspection requirements. Residents and contractors are encouraged to confirm current requirements with the township before beginning work.

Right-to-Know Requests

Shirley M. Moyer serves as the township's Open Records Officer. Right-to-Know requests may be submitted by email, by fax at 610-987-9010, by mail or in person at the municipal building. If a request is denied or unanswered, an appeal may be filed within 15 business days with the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records in Harrisburg.

Community Life

Oley Township is home to the Oley Valley Community Fair, held each year in mid September at the Oley Fairgrounds. The fair is a long standing agricultural event that draws visitors from across Berks County and reflects the farming traditions that remain central to the valley. Combined with the preserved farmland, the historic villages and the scenic road network, the fair is one of the features that makes Oley a recognizable destination within southeastern Pennsylvania.

Residents with questions about utility billing, permits, zoning, road conditions or meeting schedules can contact the township office at 610-987-3423, where forms, ordinances and the zoning map are available for download.