Traffic impacts — not votes — dominated Monday’s Gettysburg Borough Planning Commission meeting, as members dissected a revised traffic impact study for the proposed Gettysburg Station development at 108 N. Stratton Street and debated whether new traffic controls are warranted near the Borough Square and surrounding residential streets.
Borough Engineer Chad Clabaugh told the commission the developer recently submitted an updated traffic study to PennDOT reflecting significant changes to the project, most notably the removal of a previously proposed “high-turnover” restaurant along Carlisle Street. That change, he said, reduced projected vehicle trips through Lincoln Square by roughly 25 to 37 percent and lowered the development’s estimated contribution to congestion.
Even with those reductions, however, Clabaugh said the Gettysburg Square would continue to operate at a failing level of service during peak periods — a condition he emphasized is driven largely by regional growth in addition to than the Gettysburg Station project itself. Clabaugh said the revised study attributes about 161 peak-hour trips to the station project, compared with roughly 393 peak-hour trips from other surrounding development passing through Gettysburg. The project would add about 10.5 seconds of delay at the Square, just exceeding PennDOT’s 10-second review threshold, keeping the issue under state scrutiny.
Commissioners also revisited a long-standing concern about whether vehicles should be barred from making left turns out of the development onto North Stratton Street. Clabaugh said updated projections show very low volumes for those movements — about four vehicles during weekday morning peak hours, 14 in the afternoon, and 16 on Saturdays. He noted that prohibiting left turns could shift traffic toward Route 30 and potentially worsen congestion at the Square. While commissioners discussed neighborhood character and past public comments, Clabaugh said there is no engineering basis to prohibit the turns, describing it instead as a policy decision. No formal action was taken, and commissioners agreed to continue reviewing the issue.
After the lengthy traffic discussion, the commission moved through several additional agenda items. Members unanimously approved an extension request for the Simrat LLC project at 351 E. Water Street, extending the review deadline to March 16, 2026.
Commissioners also unanimously approved a minor subdivision request from Beyond All Boundaries, Inc. for 26 E. High Street. The plan shifts 552 square feet between parcels to create a lot addition that will provide a dedicated surface parking space accessed from East Legion Alley, subject to final engineering corrections and required signatures.
The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a special exception for the Keystone Inn at 231 Hanover Street. The recommendation supports converting an underused, ADA-accessible meeting space into a ninth guest room. The owners said the space has seen little demand, and the conversion would involve no exterior changes and no increase in parking demand. The final decision will rest with the Zoning Hearing Board.
Before adjourning, Chair Charles Strauss announced that the meeting marked the final appearance of long-time commissioner Sarah Kipp, who is resigning effective Dec. 31. Strauss and fellow commissioners offered extended praise for Kipp’s years of service, professional planning expertise, and commitment to Gettysburg, closing the meeting with a heartfelt farewell.
The commission also approved the following 2026 meeting dates: Jan. 20, Feb. 16, March 16, April 20, May 18, June 15, July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, and Dec. 21.
