The Gettysburg Planning Commission decided to take one more month to consider their ongoing comprehensive rezoning project. But they hope to vote on a draft ordinance to pass forward to the Gettysburg Borough Council at their February meeting .
The commission convened for the first time in 2025 on Tuesday, January 21. As with previous meetings related to the rezoning effort, a video of the meeting was captured by the Community Media of South Central PA and funded by donations.

Commission Chair Charles Strauss proposed using the meeting to review “lingering questions and concerns” and proposed six items he thought could be considered or revisited. “We’re almost there, but I don’t believe we’re there yet and we should consider the remaining concerns that are being aired,” he said.
The commission is still mulling over the zoning categorization of two areas— Carlisle Street and the West Middle Street Corridor. As has been thematic throughout the rezoning project, the commission must weigh the goal of encouraging more housing stock in the borough against the desires of some property owners to allow more commercial uses that they feel could increase property values.
Whitmore said that if the planning commission reaches consensus on the ordinance at their February meeting, that will allow the borough council to begin reviewing it at their February workshop.
The public will have further chances to comment on the rezoning project when it comes before the borough council and enters a public hearing period..
Before the planning commission votes to send a recommendation for the zoning ordinance to the borough council, staff will help craft a resolution on behalf of the Planning Commission to explain some of the reasoning and motivation behind their decisions.
Other business
Toward the end of the meeting, Whitmore discussed some 2025 priorities that borough staff will discuss with the borough council. These include: the ticketing ordinance for code compliance; the sidewalk ordinance that’s “realistic for the current conditions of the sidewalks” but will improve their condition throughout the borough; collaborating with the borough engineer to update the subdivision and land development ordinance (SALDO) to match the new zoning ordinance once it is approved by the borough council; and updates for the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB)’s design guidelines.
The borough expects to see more movement on the Gettysburg Welcome Center Project. The Gettysburg Station Project, and the library subdivision land development plan in the new year.
Whitmore also reminded the commission that the process for updating the comprehensive plan is upcoming in 2028 for the 2029 10-year update. If surveys or data collection are needed, such as a housing inventory survey, the commission should start thinking ahead so funding requests can be put before the borough council.
The Gettysburg Planning Commission will meet next on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.in the council chambers at 59 East High Street, Gettysburg, PA. The commission usually meets on the third Monday every month, but the date has been pushed back for observance of Presidents Day.
Catalina Righter, freelance reporter, lives in New Oxford. She previously wrote for the Carroll County Times and the Kent County News, covering crime, education, local government and arts. She works as a legal assistant.