Gettysburg Borough Council signaled support Monday for further study of a vacant property registry aimed at encouraging the reuse of long-empty residential and commercial properties while continuing work on long-term revisions to the borough’s sidewalk ordinance.
The discussion came during yesterday’s work session, where members emphasized that no formal action was taken on either proposal. The work session agenda included presentations on a vacant property registry and ongoing sidewalk ordinance revisions.
Mayor Alison Lintal introduced the concept of a vacant property registry, describing it as a policy tool used by municipalities to identify and track long-term vacant properties, improve communication with owners, address blight and public safety concerns, and encourage redevelopment.
Lintal said the borough faces limited opportunities for new development while some residential and commercial properties remain vacant for extended periods. She said the registry could help determine why properties remain unused and whether they could be returned to productive use, particularly for housing.
Council members raised numerous questions about how such a program would work, including how vacancy would be defined, whether short-term rentals would be included, how exemptions would be handled for properties under renovation or actively for sale, and whether the registry would apply to both residential and commercial buildings.
Members also discussed potential enforcement challenges, noting that owners may have little incentive to voluntarily register vacant properties. Possible methods for identifying vacant properties included utility records, tax delinquency information, postal delivery data, code enforcement reports and public tips.
Several council members expressed interest in learning how similar programs operate in nearby municipalities such as Hanover, Lancaster and York before considering an ordinance.
Council President Matt Moon said he viewed the proposal primarily as a tool to increase housing opportunities rather than generate revenue.
“I think what it does do is push forward the sort of collective goal of maximizing the ability to house our population,” Moon said, adding that Gettysburg has lost housing over the past decade despite being identified as an area with potential for residential growth.
By the conclusion of the discussion, council members generally agreed additional research was warranted but indicated they wanted more information before considering legislation.
Council also continued its years-long review of the borough’s sidewalk ordinance, focusing on outdoor dining areas, A-frame signs and other sidewalk obstructions.
Borough Manager Charles Gable said the borough’s current regulations limit staff’s ability to address recurring issues such as furniture extending beyond permitted outdoor dining areas, blocked pedestrian routes, and the inability to access public infrastructure for maintenance.
Staff proposed giving the borough manager authority to temporarily modify or suspend outdoor dining operations when necessary for sidewalk maintenance, utility work or public safety. Officials also suggested requiring restaurants participating in the outdoor dining program to use standardized borough-issued barriers to clearly define licensed dining areas while maintaining ADA-compliant pedestrian access.
Moon noted that sidewalk issues intersect with numerous borough responsibilities, including shade trees, stormwater management, outdoor dining, ADA compliance and maintenance responsibilities. He said the borough’s challenge is balancing accessibility requirements with property owner responsibilities while maintaining public infrastructure.
Gable also outlined the borough’s role in the upcoming Lincoln at Gettysburg: Shall Not Perish commemoration and the Live on Lincoln Square – Concert for America, emphasizing that the events are funded through separate organizations and that the borough is investing in shared infrastructure rather than performers’ fees. He said the borough’s contribution comes from investment earnings on reserve accounts rather than new taxes and is intended to support economic development through heritage tourism.