The environment inside Gettysburg Borough Hall was tense Monday as the roles of the municipality’s Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) staff, and council were debated.
Through the meeting’s agenda, staff informed council that they approved the relocation of a home currently sitting on 95 Steinwehr Avenue to 99 Steinwehr Avenue because they deemed it a minor project that does not need HARB’s review or council’s approval.
At the beginning of the meeting, HARB Chair Brandon Stone contested that relocating a building is not a minor project. Earlier this summer, council denied the demolition of the dwelling based on HARB’s recommendation.
“I think we are going to get into it here,” Council President Matthew Moon said at the beginning of the discussion.
Borough Planning Director John Whitmore said building relocations are not outlined in the HARB ordinance. Stone disagreed, saying the ordinance requires HARB review for projects that include alteration, construction, and demolition.
“All three of those things seem they would be happening here to some degree,” Moon said, adding that he believes the project should have been sent to HARB.
Councilmember Chad-Alan Carr disagreed.
“I think the applicant is following the letter of the law there,” Carr said. “Does it smell fishy? Maybe, maybe not.”
Councilmember Chris Berger agreed with Carr, noting strong public support for the project. Councilmembers Alisha Sanders and Patti Lawson said they believed HARB should have had the opportunity to review the project. Judie Butterfield and Peter Bales were absent.
Solicitor Harry Eastman concurred that staff had erred.
“Folks, I mean honestly, we talk about that being a loophole; it is not,” Eastman said. “Candidly, the relocation of a building should fall within the criteria. Such a narrow reading defeats the purpose of the Historic District ordinance. I think the relocation of a building has to come before HARB.”
The applicant, Jacqueline White, hopes to redevelop 95 Steinwehr into a small public park and build a monument in partnership with Foundation Forward, Inc. celebrating the “Charters of Freedom.” White hopes to build in time to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and to draw more visitors to the Steinwehr corridor.
White approached the council Monday confused and agitated by the possibility of having to go back to HARB.
“I am sorry my attorney is not here tonight. I cannot wait to talk to him about this,” White said.
Council unanimously approved White’s request, with HARB’s recommendation, to demolish a block garage at 99 Steinwehr Avenue and install the park monuments at 95 Steinwehr Avenue. HARB will discuss the issue at its next meeting, on Wednesday.
In a text message after the meeting, Moon said he believes White is allowed to move forward since she received staff approval. He stated that he was unqualified to determine whether White’s project necessitates a Land Development Plan or if she would be required to verify the house’s structural soundness and its ability to be relocated. He deferred those questions to Eastman, who did not respond.
Quality of Life Ordinances
Council has a message for residents and property owners–mow your grass, shovel your sidewalks, or face a ticket.
The council unanimously passed a quality of life ordinance that gives its Code Enforcement Department the ability to issue tickets for “nuisance issues that impact health, safety, and neighborhood appearance.”
The law outlines 29 illegal actions such as accumulation of trash, illegal dumping of garbage, and failure to cleanup animal feces.
Moon clarified that these issues have been outlawed for some time. Previously, Code Enforcement would have to file charges that incurred court costs. Violations will now be dealt with similarly to parking tickets, except violators will receive one warning that does not incur costs. First and second tickets cost $25, third tickets cost $50, and continued non-compliance may lead to a non-traffic citation with a cost of up to $600.
Alex J. Hayes has spent almost two decades in the Adams County news business. He is passionate about sharing stories focused on the people in our communities and following local governments in an age when few journalists report on their meetings. Alex is also a freelance writer for several other publications in South Central Pennsylvania. Alex encourages readers to contact him at ahayes83@gmail.com.