Some members of Gettysburg Borough Council and others in the local government have encouraged residents to believe information from borough government and its partners instead of published articles by local residents relative to the Gettysburg Station project and the Rezoning effort.
One apparent “partner” is the developer of the Gettysburg Station project, Mr. Harrison. His Gettysburg Station website is a great source of misinformation.
Harrison declares he will meet “specific conditions required by the Zoning Hearing Board in order for the project to receive a special exception regarding height limits”:
- Install an elevator in the Race Horse Alley garage. Absolutely not true. Nothing in the ordinance requires building an elevator off-site as an incentive to get additional height granted by the Zoning Board.
Apparently, the elevator and leasing a significant number of parking spaces in the Race Horse Alley garage was the product of discussions between Council President Moon, Borough Manager Gable, and Mr. Harrison. Neither the elevator nor the location/number of leased parking spaces are shown as part of the application being considered by the Planning Commission.
- Also will “Move the bus depot to Stratton Street at no cost to the taxpayers”. PA State grants of at least $3.6 million have been approved to move the transit station – built originally with $1.5 million State dollars — and to build the elevator. Taxpayers fund those grants.
- Enhance the landscaping and add more greenspace. Mr. Harrison has requested several waivers from the landscaping requirements during the Planning Commission review.
Harrison’s aerial photo page states that “to orient you” the white building with the red roof is the Gettysburg Hotel and the green roof is the parking garage. The red-roofed building is actually Pennsylvania Hall on the Gettysburg College campus, and the green roof is One Lincoln.
Borough officials claim that inaccurate representations of the proposed buildings have been publicized by residents. These were drone studies commissioned by the National Park Service, using data from the Harrison project. If anything, the Station Project depictions by Harrison’s team have utilized a misleading wide-angle technique that diminishes the impact of the proposed buildings.
Council President Moon has repeatedly stated that this project will provide affordable housing for local service and tourism employees. Mr. Harrison’s website says the apartments will be leased at market rate.
Council President Moon has claimed the developer will accomplish “quiet trains” within the borough. Only municipalities can apply for this state program – not a developer.
Mr. Moon has insisted that Gettysburg’s population is declining. This does not agree with the US Census or the Adams County Planning and Development projections through 2050. It would be helpful if Moon would reveal his sources.
Residents have spent a lot of time, done a lot of research and prepared accurate statements about the rezoning and the Station Project. Given the examples above, residents’ information is likely more dependable than that of the borough “partners.”
