Susan Cipperly

Gettysburg has been the subject of public notoriety in the past year, most recently with the resignation of the newly elected Mayor due to criminal charges by the State Police. For TV, press, and social media, this will be a recurring topic.  The same exposure happened when the Borough Manager was charged with a DUI

In April 1775, Lexington and Concord Massachusetts, saw the beginning of the Revolutionary War between the thirteen colonies and Great Britain.  Concord Bridge witnessed “The shot heard round the world”.  These battles were smaller and of less duration than Gettysburg, but of great significance to American history.  In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted,

In September, Gettysburg Borough Council discussed the proposed Rezoning ordinance. Mr. Moon stated that Borough population decreased between the 2010 and 2020 census – implying that our population is declining so we need to attract more people. The 2020 Census was lower due to Covid and the fact that students were not here.  Gettysburg is

The following is a statement made to the Gettysburg Planning Commission at its July 21 meeting. To the Planning Commission: During the year that the Planning Commission was revising the Rezoning document, I provided public comments that usually included a map or two.  During my 5 minutes, the image was shown on the screen so

Oversight of the police department is assigned to the position of Mayor under the Pennsylvania Municipal Code.  The DCED Mayor’s Manual states: “The mayor is the only elected executive officer in borough government. In contrast to the council, the mayor acts alone in carrying out mayoral powers and duties, which are primarily in the areas

The Gettysburg Planning Commission has been reviewing the proposed rezoning document, developed by a task force and consultant, which includes significant changes to the R-2 Moderate Density Residential zoning district (green areas in the attached map). A concerning aspect of the proposal is the addition of commercial uses to the R-2 zone, which has historically

Early in 2024, I asked Borough Council to consider broadcasting Planning Commission meetings while they were undertaking the Rezoning review and the Gettysburg Station project.  I mentioned the value of having a record of decisions made at these meetings, and not everyone can attend in person. I was told that it wasn’t in the 2024

The long-awaited drawings for the Gettysburg Station project were unveiled at the July 17th HARB meeting.  The developer’s architect presented modern style buildings appropriate for a suburban office park, and did not even attempt to use elements of design reflecting the historic look of Gettysburg.  It is possible to build new structures and have them

By Sue Cipperly, Gettysburg The Gettysburg Comprehensive Rezoning effort is needed.  Piecemeal adjustments over the years have left the zoning ordinance contradicting itself, or including parts that don’t work as written.  New uses have arrived in our world, and by Pennsylvania law, we need to decide where they can fit into our community. A small

At its March 27, 2023 work session, after two public hearings, the Gettysburg Borough Council discussed the proposed event venue ordinance that will affect seven zoning districts, and the proposed zoning map change that pertains to Johns and Highland Avenues.  In support of the map change, Mr. Stone of Colt Park provided an eloquent statement

On Monday, March 27, the Gettysburg Borough Council will hold public hearings for two proposed zoning ordinance changes that will affect two neighborhoods in the Third Ward. One is the Johns Ave/Highland Avenue area, where there are single-family homes with good-sized yards, just south of the hospital. The other is just north of the hospital,

The Borough Council was asked to consider a change to the zoning ordinance for the Elm Street Overlay area, which lies between Middle Street and South Street, and between Franklin Street and Court Alley (the Methodist Church) on West High Street. (See map) This area has been dubbed “Olde Getty Place”. The change request is