In 2024, HARB reviewed the proposed Gettysburg Station project. No fences were included. I asked why the new Transit Station was not also being reviewed. Mr. Harrison said it would be designed later. It appeared as a simple rectangle with a U-shaped loop until 2026.
I have commented that fences on both sites should require HARB review, and it would be good if they could match, not be the six-foot-tall chain link as shown on a March 2026 plan for the Transit Station.
During the July 15, 2026 HARB meeting, only the Transit building was reviewed, even though it was known a fence was planned. Why? The site that people currently drive through has no fence, but as of July 20, the Planning Commission application shows a fence around three sides of the Transit Station.
At the 7/20/2026 Planning Commission meeting, a discussion took place regarding whether the proposed Transit fence needs HARB review. Planning Director Whitmore stated that it could be administratively approved because it is an “in-kind replacement “– even though there currently is no fence on the property! The apparent justification was that it is the same style of fence that is on the current Carlisle Transit Center property, which opened in 2012, is under separate ownership and had a separate HARB review. They would just transfer the HARB approval to the Station Project to avoid a trip to HARB?
Asked whether the fence on the main site was HARB approved during the 2024 review, Whitmore said he believed it was, but would check. The March 2026 Planning Commission packets showed a fence along the railroad line, but nothing about the style. The Borough Engineer said he would provide examples used elsewhere in the borough. He apparently provided that information directly to the developer’s engineer, as fence detail/information appeared on the July 20, 2026 Planning Commission update for both sites.
If the main site had HARB approval for a fence in 2024, it would have been easy to provide that information to the Planning Commission, but it wasn’t, because it didn’t exist.
The Transit and Station sites could theoretically have several hundred feet of fence deemed administratively approvable because it matches the Carlisle Transit fence that opened in 2012, and is not owned by Mr. Harrison. It would not get reviewed by HARB like all the other fences that residents get detailed review for. Since when do HARB recommendations transfer? If a neighbor has the same type of fence, do you get administrative approval instead of HARB review?
At their August Business meeting, Borough Council will vote whether to approve the HARB recommendations. The transit building is on the list of New Business projects, but the fence is not – for either site. At the July 13 Council meeting, three New Business projects were fences, and a fourth included a fence. The information provided to Council needs to be accurate and equitable. The situation described above is definitely not. The fences on the main sites and the transit station need to go through the HARB approval process, not just be approved administratively. It seems that the transit station building recommendation should be tabled until the recommendation includes the fence. A HARB application for the fencing on the main site should be filed. It may be an inconvenience, but it needs be done right.
