Events venue owner speaks out about zoning

Two big concerns that have been expressed about Gettysburg Borough’s proposed draft event venue ordinance seem to be noise and parking. The current Borough ordinances have an entire section devoted to the regulation of noise. It covers a host of noise-producing activities and applies to all properties in the Borough. The Borough ordinances also contain comprehensive parking regulations. The current ordinances are located online at www.gettysaburgpa.gov. Additional constraints, parameters, and conditions are proposed in the draft of the Event Venue Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) to further protect Borough residents.

During the month of October 2022, the Gettysburg Academy moved over 500 people through the property. As with most ghost tours, they were on the sidewalk and I invited them in. These tours occurred on the grounds and inside the building in the evenings between 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. every Friday and Saturday – every weekend in October with not one complaint regarding parking or noise. The ordinances in place work!   These ghost walking tours bring hundreds of people through our neighborhoods daily and nightly with no issues, up and down our sidewalks, walking all through town. These people frequent our businesses, park on our streets, stay in our hotels, and patronize our shops. This is already occurring in our neighborhoods.  

This block on High Street where the Gettysburg Academy is located at 68 W. High St. is full of mixed uses, with a good part of the block being non-residential, including 3 churches that host weddings, funerals, car shows, and yard sales, as well as offices, a thrift store, a lawyer’s office, a soup kitchen, and rehabilitation center. The current zoning district promotes mixed use which currently allows for restaurants and childcare facilities. The Gettysburg Academy’s proposed use is not substantially different than what is already happening in our neighborhood.

Gettysburg is a town rich in history that is also a tourist destination. Diversification is key to survival and the preservation of our unique historic structures. If we don’t continue to respond to the needs of our community, the necessary adaptive reuse of historic structures will be stymied. Failing to responsibly meet the needs of our biggest industry can jeopardize those great restaurants and shops we frequent and enjoy. If tourists aren’t here to enjoy Gettysburg and spend money, there will be no Gettysburg to support local businesses and businesses will leave. If we don’t provide venues for local residents to gather, they will have to look outside of this community for their needs to be met.

This community plays host to many people and many events. It’s what our community is particularly good at. Why is there a small contingent manufacturing concerns about a well-vetted ordinance?  I guess there are always some who fear change. The proposed ZTA has been discussed for over a year and a half at over 35 public meetings. The borough council has put a lot of thought into crafting this ZTA. It is time to move forward. Change is constant and diversification is key to survival. Please support the ZTA request of the Gettysburg Academy and the current draft ordinance. My family and I have been residents, business owners, taxpayers, and community supporters of our great town since 1926. Please help me celebrate this beautiful and historic building by sharing its history and keeping it part of Gettysburg’s tourism.

Please contact me with any questions you may have. I would be happy to show you our plans and give you a tour of the Academy. I have an open house scheduled on April 25, 2023, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. to address any concerns you may have.

Thank you, and please show your support for The Gettysburg Academy.