[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6331265,"mediaKeyId","2312200-d85074b01c947f36257732ce0a4fee69","parentId",2312200,"title","Council approves Westerly Parkway shopping center replat; planning commission found plan compliant","audioSeconds",225,"startMs",5585000,"endMs",5810000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2312200-d85074b01c947f36257732ce0a4fee69&start=5585&end=5810","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2312200-d85074b01c947f36257732ce0a4fee69/thumbnail_5585000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6331265/State-College-City/Centre-County/Pennsylvania/Council-approves-Westerly-Parkway-shopping-center-replat-planning-commission-found-plan-compliant","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331265-a98ee03d56bc4d2292037a38ea460e78/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573622&Signature=GPWqmxEdNypOe2LuFf-Zn7kBQUQeZYCLA~JfjaGC0kol6xgkvr0zXsNyWhdM8l1Kc73kNDWQtu5Knq0f5BTsyHLjxbz0fZsbLuSKHdHCi5PHmirdVFZFYyFuXglN4A5x8Gx3nULF46PuizjZsgNkc~mAow71jRz-xM1SR-o4JsJp-3qs~8FV-sgt~7H8HzEYoCSNTIr2fZGh2QX18Rkpal8UpYPZhJzcAk9EHTjjcR3ce-dASdpCEDWiyzMtaFPtPR4Mq~PUpIvPVB88UyGP8x0svTH2hMQTO-t8C776XzILn~t1Iuuc9DrTxrLCHQ~0k6OhSI~V1f7ubGUmKQugyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State College City, PA","date","2025-02-10T00:00:00Z","article","Council approved a subdivision plan that replats and consolidates three tax parcels at the Westerly Parkway Shopping Center. Tom Fontaine, borough manager, said the proposal replats tax parcels 36021-034-0000 and 36021-035A-0000 and consolidates the result with 36021-041A-0000 in a CP-3 planned commercial zoning district; the related land-development plan remains under review.

Fontaine said the planning commission reviewed the subdivision at its Jan. 23 meeting and found it complies with borough zoning and subdivision regulations. Council treated the approval as a ministerial act because the plan met applicable standards.

Council member Michael Herndon said vacant buildings in the plaza have been problematic and noted the borough's upcoming zoning rewrite could change future development patterns; he urged the developer to consider non-student housing demand should the zoning near the university change.

The council voted to approve the subdivision. No public comment spoke during the roll call on the item.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","State College Borough Council - 2/10/25 ","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved a ministerial subdivision to replat and consolidate parcels at the Westerly Parkway Shopping Center; planning commission had found the plan complies with zoning and subdivision regulations.","taxTitle","State College City, Centre County, Pennsylvania","taxId",12571,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6331270,"Police clear downtown crowd after post-game disturbance; no force used and no arrests made",402,6448000,6850000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2312200-d85074b01c947f36257732ce0a4fee69&start=6448&end=6850","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2312200-d85074b01c947f36257732ce0a4fee69/thumbnail_6448000.jpg","/articles/6331270/State-College-City/Centre-County/Pennsylvania/Police-clear-downtown-crowd-after-post-game-disturbance-no-force-used-and-no-arrests-made","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331270-879905fc7598c055fae8bd599d2f3b38/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573622&Signature=mJ1cGqsGqwjIiburShzAjwJjojvGd~TA0fNtUfThEEtDN4aJMDXm7M0De9EhT2M9Cfi2m00dEGPB29dZ5-~789DEiBANvFUD~Bvuzy1WurC40DYyKs~4pKCARaAfQ7B14CCTmVv~5yINOlVRXG7oOQQtMJySVMioJ1hAWNKVymsJkeKukGSMtUApm-vwjvnZkpUP9v7z2igGpfsEB731Dgwq9neMXYPpBkpqGyf-bUz8SN-45N1w5cBuu0IdNDXYVXdn8VZrmVyzvxTSBzvZb~j0NgaObGbcw-3xajvI7xyHBoZjhpvljaagN9HdHd9jgCBna9XqZ1MVug3lL~SSsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief John Gardner (State College Police Department) briefed council about a post-game disturbance in Beaver Canyon on the night after a major football event. The chief said officers and mutual-aid partners allowed celebrations to continue while monitoring, but began rerouting traffic and intervened after some individuals began destructive acts, including climbing on lampposts, removing traffic signage and discharging fireworks from elevated positions.

Gardner said officers began moving to clear the street at about 10:20 p.m., and that by roughly 11:30 p.m. the streets were fully cleared. He said no force or chemical agents (such as pepper spray) were used and no arrests were made that night. \"We used no force, We used no chemical agents or pepper spray or anything like that and we reported no injuries to either to the public or our officers,\" Gardner said.

The chief said public works crews assisted with cleanup and the borough is assembling damage estimates; borough staff provided a preliminary estimate of about $3,000 for public damage and said private-property damage figures are still being compiled. Gardner said police are reviewing video evidence to identify individuals who climbed streetlights or set off fireworks from elevated positions and that follow-up enforcement actions and arrests are possible based on that review.

Council members thanked the police and mutual-aid partners. Several council members asked that council be notified when major incidents occur; Chief Gardner and the borough manager said staff will consider additional internal notification protocols while continuing to use public alert systems to ask crowds to vacate streets when needed.

The chief also announced his intent to retire at the end of the year after 35 years with the department and nine years as chief; council members thanked him for his service and said they will plan a future ceremony.","State College Police and mutual aid partners cleared a crowd that had blocked Beaver Avenue after a football game; officers reported no injuries, no use of chemical agents and no arrests, and said they will follow up on video evidence of dangerous acts and assess property damage.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6331275,"Council alerted to proposed repeal of two rental-code provisions found preempted by state law",649,4187000,4836000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2312200-d85074b01c947f36257732ce0a4fee69&start=4187&end=4836","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2312200-d85074b01c947f36257732ce0a4fee69/thumbnail_4187000.jpg","/articles/6331275/State-College-City/Centre-County/Pennsylvania/Council-alerted-to-proposed-repeal-of-two-rental-code-provisions-found-preempted-by-state-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331275-2055b435ac060ba64c045eb76e9c4af4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573622&Signature=GvzEB1okbgF512wwCHVlCMv7xFl3MYnsk8PM0OMWE2PACdl9GGjWi8g5ES3isi6p~y60xzAtGwfwzY11q4UTomBjuBfDWTFnZZNUbxy4dQZigLbIeW3ygvhCfBR85-x4L5ohjzBx2MM2ErC29-dB9layQcdWlvVy5j~Enj4Y~IRrKFsDQ1rmED2mZRefNcAN2n6LWZJfmLhTt2f9uFGP0J9Qz8ncvNaiuHWtgODYfWPff306iUL4Pxals5sQGKiNF7El0CvFH5syHnzqAfLvTRzTifQfj-HU5Bep2WhtkY4taQeNM9dmGQpyVLZLGsNkf-4cDxKo-HqwArtlEl7d1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tom Fontaine, the borough manager, told council the borough and regional partners reviewed the 2023 Center Region Rental Housing and Building Safety Code after tenant-rights groups raised concerns about enforceability and preemption by state law. Fontaine said staff, in consultation with legal counsel and tenant advocates, recommends repealing two specific sections that were judged to interfere with landlord-tenant contractual relationships and to be preempted by state statute.

Solicitor Williams explained the legal concerns in detail. Williams said local landlord-tenant provisions are difficult to draft without conflicting with comprehensive state landlord-tenant law. He identified two specific code provisions for repeal: a section requiring landlords to provide fully executed lease copies to all parties that effectively interferes with typical deposit and holding procedures, and a provision that would allow lease termination after a protection-from-abuse order in a way that could produce unworkable outcomes if both parties request relief. Williams said those two provisions appear unenforceable and could risk broader legal challenges to the code if retained.

Fontaine said the ordinance to repeal the two sections was included with the meeting packet and that final consideration is scheduled for the council meeting on March 3, 2025. He said staff and counsel will be available to answer questions before that vote.

Council members acknowledged the intent behind tenant-rights provisions but agreed with counsel and the housing attorney that the two flagged sections create enforceability risks. Council member Balachandran said the provisions had already been discussed when the code was adopted and that the housing attorney had flagged concerns at the time.

What happens next: the borough will present an ordinance to repeal the two specified sections at the March 3 council meeting; staff said additional code sections flagged as possibly problematic could be reviewed later but that the immediate recommendation is limited to the two sections described in the packet.","Borough staff and the solicitor briefed council on a recommended amendment to the Center Region Rental Housing and Building Safety Code to repeal two provisions the solicitor and tenant-advocate attorneys identified as preempted by state law; final council vote is scheduled for March 3, 2025.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6331279,"Center County MPO seeks municipal input on long-range transportation plan; council presses for bike, rail and safety fixes",2066,2114000,4180000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2312200-d85074b01c947f36257732ce0a4fee69&start=2114&end=4180","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2312200-d85074b01c947f36257732ce0a4fee69/thumbnail_2114000.jpg","/articles/6331279/State-College-City/Centre-County/Pennsylvania/Center-County-MPO-seeks-municipal-input-on-long-range-transportation-plan-council-presses-for-bike-rail-and-safety-fixes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331279-e1ebd4ba9fd515b1a0585970ecae089a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573622&Signature=UXQ06J7-2jSJm74IjmSQYDv67l-BQ5rDGXV7-juyBqVaz2cz0~pnAwRQJpjWi5QTcf-sj5m2Z8LPbyYNh1x-QA-MG7Zyn10od8dXqfVN5-NdBCvUngYRRENDWJdJJU~wDGq50Q5~bKJSnCOfdW3Z~Giy6HX-Pm5KptkI-qgWvOv6vwZcuQr9ENCP7VZ6CyG9NvZoJvz6ViASkJW6LqxUGMfLB2M1lSwnWgIgQUhnBIfNk3yYrEzJ7eYBKrzq5rqbRWdM6UNIc~w7bQ2CxgQOQvNHcyJlFTfnyt6wRl-ABlN3zHFuJlLBvGRg44Uj8yzkgaITzyiJKNbLlU0BvFsVpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Anne Messer, senior transportation planner for the Center County Metropolitan Planning Organization, told State College Borough Council that the MPO's long-range transportation plan update is due Sept. 17, 2025, and that municipal feedback on five specific questions is requested by March 14, 2025. Messer said the MPO is proceeding on the assumption that core bridge, highway and alternate-transportation funds for this year and next are obligated but that discretionary federal funds remain uncertain.

Council discussion focused on safety and connectivity. Council members stressed the North Atherton corridor and Park Avenue as high priorities: Council member Eric Portney noted a regional pilot on automated speed enforcement on North Atherton is being pursued with state legislative partners; Michael Herndon urged traffic calming on Atherton and a conversion to a two-lane plus center-turn-lane design to improve access for North Atherton businesses and create safer crossings for pedestrians and schoolchildren.

Cycling and micro-mobility needs drew sustained attention. Several council members called for an interconnected regional bike network, better connections to the Military Museum, and filling gaps to extend the rail-trail to Bellefonte. Members urged that painted bike lanes be reconsidered in favor of raised or physically separated bikeways on busy corridors such as Atherton, and asked the MPO to account for emerging micro-mobility devices (e-bikes and scooters) in design standards.

On regional transit and rail access, council members and Messer discussed a potential shuttle to link State College with the Tyrone train station. Messer said the MPO has applied for planning funds for a rail-access study (UPWP) and that, if funded, a study would likely start later in 2025 and recommend shuttle solutions rather than immediate rail service.

Council also raised emerging-technology opportunities: Michael Herndon and others urged improved vehicle and bicycle detection at signals so lights respond reliably to bikes and lone cars; suggestions included updated sensors, pedestrian detection improvements to avoid long wait cycles, and parking guidance systems for downtown garages.

Messer summarized funding: the MPO has one discrete discretionary award for $200,000 and a larger uncertainty about other discretionary funds; she reiterated that years 1-4 of the plan are largely accounted for in the Transportation Improvement Program and the MPO is planning for years 5 and beyond.

The MPO is collecting municipal project requests through March 14; Messer asked council members to return answers to the five outreach questions or submit project request forms if they propose specific capital projects.

The discussion included requests to improve coordination between the borough's zoning/zones rewrite and the long-range plan timeline, and to continue municipal engagement beyond initial submission windows.","The Center County Metropolitan Planning Organization sought municipal feedback on a long-range transportation plan due Sept. 17, 2025; State College council emphasized bike-network connectivity, safety on North Atherton and Park Avenue, emerging technologies for intersections and parking, and regional shuttle/rail access concerns.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6331284,"State College updates No Mow May pilot, recommends plant-focused pollinator strategy",1777,289000,2066000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2312200-d85074b01c947f36257732ce0a4fee69&start=289&end=2066","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2312200-d85074b01c947f36257732ce0a4fee69/thumbnail_289000.jpg","/articles/6331284/State-College-City/Centre-County/Pennsylvania/State-College-updates-No-Mow-May-pilot-recommends-plant-focused-pollinator-strategy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331284-059f34bebd859f8cd5f338a3c0f0f51d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573622&Signature=KoDYKzbar6tK4U6OIA6oP3HtGbu9ePXpUATu0F4FemfGR2SHManIyKfKGkAdVCkNvdmdVCZ7tn7ocMb6DXDgrS5NYMew6DfUwdWcLFMLy9~V5diHb2xvILg5Og4Uzxi4kGzcte9Zwe8wOG9SJah116c-9QKJ6H2i1AfUqyXE1HoWuexwMPfEyDUYHU7EwaKLfgRk05~pdsl7WCGvPXyAB1lSS6~mlhoDuw19-KBaY4tF3BWOZvV5NVzIucGnyPtWKGaCPd7HZmJ-UjNOBoqrlmV2e~33O0162u0GVyzY~cRPse0Wxqh8ajgDjdrFmkzBFyA3eUU20OtUu2KMVPxhrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jasmine Fields, Sustainability Program Officer for the Borough of State College, told council Monday that two pilot runs of the borough's No Mow May program showed strong public interest but mixed public feedback and limited evidence that simply ceasing mowing produces durable pollinator benefits.

Fields said the borough ran its first pilot in 2022 with 60 registered participants and relaunched a modified pilot in 2024 with about 150 registered participants. She said the borough received 278 community survey responses after the 2024 pilot and that \"most people heard about the program from the borough newsletter, social media, and word-of-mouth.\" Fields said some respondents were confused by the program's registration requirements and the borough's emphasis on pollinator conservation rather than only mowing cessation.

The presentation included two Penn State experts. Christina Grozinger, director of the Penn State Center for Pollinator Research, emphasized native planting and seasonal floral continuity, saying, \"we have about 440 wild bee species that we have in Pennsylvania\" and stressing habitat design that provides forage and nesting across seasons. Harlan Patch of the Penn State Arboretum said North American pollinator communities require native trees, shrubs and meadow plants that bloom across the year, and cautioned that common lawn weeds such as dandelions and clover are generally non-native and \"are not plants for North American insects.\" Patch said simple non-mowing campaigns introduced from other countries can miss local ecological timing and nutrition needs and recommended active planting and management instead.

Why it matters: Borough staff said they do not intend to recommend a borough-wide No Mow May policy for 2025 unless council asks them to proceed. Instead, staff described a multi-part approach: better public education and demonstration projects, two forthcoming park meadow conversions funded via the county conservation district, a Penn State master's capstone to draft policy options, and a public panel discussion in March hosted with the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society.

Council members asked about next steps and regulatory barriers. Fields said staff is working with the borough arborist to adjust the street-tree planting list and that the borough is reviewing code provisions that currently restrict some types of yard or right-of-way plantings. Fields also said the borough is drafting outreach materials and a plant list for the borough website.

Council member Anthony Kasab said he was unsure of the value of No Mow May if it only relaxes mowing rather than requiring high-quality planting; Fields and the Penn State presenters agreed, telling council their data and experience favor intentional planting plans. Council member Michael Herndon urged the borough to track whether participants were single-family homes or multiunit properties; Fields said the registration database includes addresses and that staff can provide that breakdown.

Staff direction and next steps: Fields said borough staff will continue partnerships with the Penn State Center for Pollinator Research and the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society, develop educational materials and demonstration sites in borough parks, complete the student capstone policy work and post expanded plant and program resources on the borough website. The borough indicated draft code language to allow approved pollinator plantings will be reviewed but is not expected to be ready for the coming growing season.

Quotes in context are from presentation and council Q&A recorded in the meeting transcript.

The presentation concluded with an invitation to a public panel in about three weeks and contact information for the borough sustainability program for residents seeking more detail.","Borough staff and Penn State researchers presented results of two No Mow May pilot years and recommended moving from an outright no-mow approach to active planting of native trees and flowers, expanded outreach, and code guidance to allow approved pollinator plantings in public rights-of-way.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves Westerly Parkway shopping center replat; planning commission found plan compliant

Police clear downtown crowd after post-game disturbance; no force used and no arrests made

Council alerted to proposed repeal of two rental-code provisions found preempted by state law

Center County MPO seeks municipal input on long-range transportation plan; council presses for bike, rail and safety fixes

State College updates No Mow May pilot, recommends plant-focused pollinator strategy