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 task force has been working privately for a year with borough staff and a consultant. There was an opportunity last fall to get a glimpse at the proposed map changes, but without much text available. Some corrections were made as a result of questions posed at the meeting.
A draft of the entire document was recently released. So was the proposed zoning map. These are both available on the borough website – click on Rezoning and look for the links recently posted. Also, click on E-Alerts and get signed up for a variety of items delivered to your e-mail: Council and Planning Commission agendas, Dept. of Public Works info, etc.
Right now, the planning commission agenda is the most important to the Rezoning. The Planning Commission (PC) is independent of council, and makes decisions on all land development projects. It provides an advisory opinion to borough council on zoning ordinance changes, and will be reviewing the 190-page document in smaller doses over the next few months, with help from the Borough Planning Director. Attend their meetings on the third Monday night of the month if you can. That way you can ask questions or comment in person. Thanks to private donations, the PC meetings will be broadcast live, then be available on YouTube and communitymedia.net
The council declined to provide funding for broadcasting these important meetings. Council President Matt Moon described the changes as “tweaks”, so it wasn’t necessary to provide broadcasts or a video record of what is said. Council members will eventually vote on the rezoning, so video would benefit them, as well.
The document seems daunting due to its length. One helpful place to start is the chart starting on page 63 showing all the zones and allowed uses. Take a look at the map to make sure your zone has not changed, look at the chart to see what’s proposed to be allowed. Seemingly small things like backyard chickens (if you have an acre) or two bee hives per property in all residential zones, could be problematic for some. Additional housing units per property, and various residential uses should be looked at by the neighborhoods affected. A big concern is the existing Redevelopment zone in the Carlisle Street area, plus taller buildings expanding to the Railroad Street vicinity and on Carlisle. According to the State College Centre Daily Times, this idea was touted by Manager Gable in 2007 and 2010, while on the State College Area Regional Planning Commission. Does it belong, or work here?
Please get informed and involved with this effort. We need to discuss things beforehand, not be surprised in hindsight, when it’s too late.
Featured Image Caption: Existing and proposed expansion of the Redevelopment zone (purple)
Susan Cipperly is a professional land use planner who has lived in Gettysburg for 25 years. She considers her involvement in local planning and zoning issues a way to contribute to the borough in general, and to maintain neighborhoods in particular.