The Gettysburg Borough Council used its Monday work session to advance changes to rental housing rules, examine pedestrian safety concerns near Vida Charter School, continue a rewrite of the historic district ordinance, and receive an update on the Gettysburg Welcome Center.
No formal votes were taken.
Council also confirmed executive sessions were held following the April 13 meeting and would again be held after Monday’s session to address personnel matters, legal strategy, and other confidential business.
Rental inspection changes proposed
Council signaled support for changes to the borough’s Regulated Rental Unit Occupancy (RRUO) program that would simplify fees and improve compliance.
The proposal would combine the current $40 annual license fee and $80 triennial inspection fee into a single annual payment, reducing administrative work and encouraging property owners to stay current on inspections.
“They’re minimal inspections, but they’re important for smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, things like that,” said Peter Griffioen, the borough’s code enforcement officer. “They’re minimal standards, but they are important.”
“Tying in the inspection fee into the license fee was what I thought would be best for the borough,” Griffioen said.
Staff will return with draft ordinance language later this year.
VIDA safety concerns complicated by state control
Mayor Alison Lintal said she received a letter from Vida Charter School requesting improvements at the intersection of East Broadway and Old Harrisburg Road following a recent hit-and-run crash.
“It came to my attention that… a letter… was sent to the borough council… requesting enhanced pedestrian safety measures,” Lintal said.
“There was a hit and run where someone was quite injured… there are lighting issues, there are visibility issues, there are inadequate signage issues,” she said.
Public Works Director Robert Harbaugh said the borough faces significant hurdles because the intersection is on a state highway.
“It’s a PennDOT road. It’s not a borough-owned street,” Harbaugh said.
Any installation of a pedestrian-activated crosswalk or flashing beacon would require PennDOT approval, coordination with Cumberland Township, and supporting data.
“We would have to do some studying… we’d have to have some traffic counts, and we’d also have to have crash data,” Harbaugh said. “We just can’t… throw one up.”
Even if approved, the project would take time and funding. Council members estimated a full package of improvements could cost about $70,000 and discussed sharing costs with Cumberland Township and possibly the school district.
Council President Matt Moon noted that flashing crosswalk beacons have limits. “They’re not legally binding,” he said, meaning drivers are not required to stop unless a pedestrian is in the crosswalk.
In the near term, officials said they could pursue lower-cost steps such as repainting crosswalk markings and upgrading lighting.
Historic district overhaul moves forward
Council continued work on a sweeping update to the borough’s historic district ordinance, aimed at clarifying rules and reducing delays for property owners.
The changes would expand administrative approvals for minor projects—particularly those not visible from public streets—and reduce the number of cases requiring review by the Historic Architectural Review Board.
Moon highlighted in the review process, noting that applicants can wait through lengthy meetings without being heard.
“Folks who are on the agenda, they sit through a two-, three-, four-hour meeting… they’re the last thing on the agenda and we just don’t get to them,” Moon said. “That is a… wretched experience for the applicant.
Staff said the goal is to preserve historic character while making the system more predictable and user-friendly. The proposal will next go to HARB before returning to council.
Welcome Center construction taking shape
Construction of the Gettysburg Welcome Center at 340 Baltimore Street is now visibly advancing. “If you’ve not been by 340 Baltimore Street, things are happening,” said Main Street Gettysburg Executive Director Jill Sellers.
“The steel was installed and welded last Friday, so you can see the shape of the structure starting to happen,” she said. “The walls are currently under construction… it’s starting to get an elevation to it.”
Project leaders are meeting regularly with contractors while Main Street Gettysburg and community partners finalize plans for operations ahead of a targeted opening later this year.
“We’re meeting with the contractors every other week,” Sellers said, with an opening planned “in August, to be determined.”
Fundraising remains a priority, with about $300,000 raised toward a $1 million endowment to support long-term operations. “This endowment will provide operational revenue for this structure,” Sellers said. “The goal… is to not leave this as a problem for our next generations.”
“I’m really encouraged by the response that we’ve had in the community… a great legacy in the heart of downtown.”