[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,98],{"_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",6608340,"mediaKeyId","2939641-87226a3b05d12e2d74704d50fcaac653","parentId",2939641,"title","Council to consider multiple zoning and land‑development matters Monday, including shelter, subdivision and variances","audioSeconds",493,"startMs",2665000,"endMs",3158000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939641-87226a3b05d12e2d74704d50fcaac653&start=2665&end=3158","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939641-87226a3b05d12e2d74704d50fcaac653/thumbnail_2665000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6608340/Pottstown/Montgomery-County/Pennsylvania/Council-to-consider-multiple-zoning-and-landdevelopment-matters-Monday-including-shelter-subdivision-and-variances","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608340-619213c5301a495089382fa0555d4003/orig.mp4?Expires=1773757647&Signature=LwQITt7jrLar7Brvs26gnTvulSD~4sdqSdP3236DxMpqhUbMX3iqdQ6WwjEiv0oTWVJbgy0v6pSIH65GBXqifEfB8J8e~fstceW~5mUFbOljo2w57VwhK3PkN1CSIhySSHUJyjpoxX8YV1Yo6Z5O3LoLVZl9XZWS1cSMylO9FOBAl88anweg4WAt8CC7MTosGbaQ9rwmInVuJAqRtlcrpSF83fIDeXIy1CVW3QwRif9G01MQOupYfGIfB8z3e4B3QivP4ox7n1DweUR~tBbb667a-OSsIVI6ZuwuenxVuBb87WTIFlmXjg7PaZ1I8H05ORy8HYK~0y0IMS3X9TU9lQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pottstown, PA","date","2025-04-10T03:17:41.23Z","article","Pottstown planning staff told the Committee of the Whole on April 9 that several zoning and land-development items will be on the council agenda Monday for action or formal referral to the zoning hearing board.

Dan Garner summarized the items. Montgomery County Community College and Community Health Dental Care have applied for a variance to permit a mobile dental clinic on college property; the application asks the council whether to oppose or support sending the matter to the zoning hearing board. Garner said the application did not specify how frequently the mobile unit would be on site and staff recommended allowing the zoning hearing board to hear the case.

A separate application concerns storage containers at the Walmart property on Shoemaker Road. The zoning officer determined the temporary containers constitute outdoor storage, not a permitted use; Walmart has filed for relief to allow 11 or 13 storage units behind the store from September to March. Staff said the county board of assessment would determine whether such temporary storage added assessable square footage, and noted the zoning filing clarifies the company’s intent.

Another item on the Monday agenda is a revised plan for 502 Hale Street. The applicant revised an original proposal for a four-unit building to a two-lot subdivision for twin homes. The planning commission recommended preliminary/final approval subject to consultant review letters and standard conditions, including replacement of older trees or payment of a fee in lieu of trees.

Council was also reminded of a larger, previously litigated/approved project at 601 West High Street: a permanent shelter on a 2.4-acre site. Planning commission recommended approval of the land-development plan subject to compliance with conditions imposed by a prior zoning hearing board variance; staff noted three routine waiver requests and said the applicant proffered exterior elevations for council review. Staff advised that if council acts on the project Monday it should condition final approval on council’s acceptance of the submitted elevations and compliance with inspection and engineering sign-offs.

None of the items produced final votes at the committee meeting; staff asked that council take formal action or set positions at the Monday meeting.

Clarifying details: the Hale Street lot is about 6,300 sq ft; 502 Hale was revised to a 2-lot subdivision for twin homes; Walmart proposed 8×40 storage units behind the store for a seasonal period (September–March); 601 W. High Street project building about 13,800 sq ft on a 2.4-acre site; planning commission recommended approval of several items with conditions and routine waivers.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pottstown Committee of The Whole April 9th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Pottstown planning staff told council on April 9 that multiple zoning and land-development matters will appear on Monday’s agenda, including variances for a mobile dental clinic and temporary storage at Walmart, a two‑lot subdivision for 502 Hale Street, and final land-development action for a permanent shelter at 601 West High Street.","taxTitle","Pottstown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania","taxId",4189,"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},6608346,"Pottstown Council to seek bids for 2025 paving plan; $100,000 sidewalk grant announced",855,1724000,2579000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939641-87226a3b05d12e2d74704d50fcaac653&start=1724&end=2579","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939641-87226a3b05d12e2d74704d50fcaac653/thumbnail_1724000.jpg","/articles/6608346/Pottstown/Montgomery-County/Pennsylvania/Pottstown-Council-to-seek-bids-for-2025-paving-plan-100000-sidewalk-grant-announced","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608346-0be1812b8a8fdd7952e74d2cb240db07/orig.mp4?Expires=1773757647&Signature=d1ZplUmx4jDWjrI7l2JNiGMadsGW2SbDJGh9BvQNyW47JQ7vlNkOe0PgYeeDp8-OJDsLEr255YLVjoELccCfblvRu6tAvojR1BJ6un-v2Cy~~zzIPmLbOIs0FNy3Zfwfj2xrBCqpT-j-bVCSt~CvvfoymJvv3q4no4PcPr0BMxOYlkrbnTigWSTbMyKl9T7KEY4UbqgCkDeQZhaWkFhM-M42c3H4Kr3Rv1yLpSv3cepGxbsNdds12uA-b66RmokibQ6Ir9xCVdQmSHHnQZi2430CCdYq7CzE7-beTYABFffflhMuJFXwpcWWNNR8~3meU0qqDoNXTzbhyCSwrC8NKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pottstown borough staff asked council on April 9 to endorse a package of road projects and authorize putting the work out to bid, saying the 2025 program will repave about 6.69 miles of streets using a mix of state and utility funding.

The presentation to the Committee of the Whole said the borough expects roughly $800,000 from the state liquid fuels fund this year and noted PECO will repave about 2.48 miles of streets after utility work, while the borough would repave about 4.21 miles. Public works director Doug Yerger described the department’s 1–5 condition rating for roads and said 22 miles currently carry the worst rating (a 5). “We rate the roads on the 1 to 5 basis,” Yerger said, explaining the scale from a newly paved road (1) to surfaces with potholes and recurring patches (5).

The manager and public works staff told council they coordinate paving with PennDOT projects, PECO schedules and neighboring municipalities to avoid digging up newly paved streets. Staff identified an intermunicipal agreement with Lower Pottsgrove for Adams Street work; the borough’s estimated share is about $53,000 because the borough’s side of the street is wider and uses more material. Staff asked council to endorse putting the borough’s portion of the 2025 paving package out to bid on Monday night.

The manager also reported other infrastructure work: a RFQ for engineering services for the Keystone Boulevard extension (funded through a House Appropriations bill from Rep. Madeleine Dean’s office), a county pre-construction meeting on the Schuylkill River Trail connection (the last one-mile link, now delayed after contaminated soils were found), and ongoing paving tied to water/sewer authority main replacements. Borough staff said the trail completion could slip from August into the fall due to the contamination.

Council also heard that the borough received a $100,000 sidewalk repair grant from state Sen. Carolyn Comitta’s office (noted in the packet as from “Senator Pennycook” in the meeting transcript) to repair sidewalks damaged by street trees while protecting the tree canopy and improving walkability.

Staff said alleyways are mostly not adopted by the borough and therefore are generally the responsibility of adjacent property owners; the borough can perform temporary pothole repairs and reuse millings in alleys, but cannot use liquid fuels funds to repave non-adopted alleys. Residents seeking a full alley rebuild must obtain neighbor agreement, surveys, and a free permit from the borough so the work won’t alter stormwater flow to adjacent properties.

Council was also briefed on miscellaneous operational details: efforts to coordinate underground utility schedules to reduce post-pave digs, the borough’s practice of using videos of sewer pipes to prioritize work, and that the authority’s wastewater-related impact fees financed pavement set-asides for roadways affected by heavy truck traffic.

Councilors and staff said the coordinated approach and steady liquid fuels revenue have improved the borough’s ability to address paving needs; staff asked for council’s endorsement to proceed to bid at the next meeting.

Clarifying details: staff estimated $800,000 in liquid fuels funds available for paving in 2025; total proposed repaving 6.69 miles (borough 4.21 miles, PECO 2.48 miles); about 22 miles of borough streets were rated a 5 on the condition scale; intermunicipal share for Adams Street ~ $53,000; sidewalk grant amount $100,000; Schuylkill River Trail connection about 1 mile, now likely delayed into fall due to contaminated soils. The borough asked for endorsement to put the paving contract out to bid on Monday night.

The council did not vote at the Committee meeting; staff asked for endorsement to list the paving bid for Monday’s council meeting and to finalize intermunicipal agreements and bid documents.","Borough staff presented a 2025 paving plan that would repave about 6.69 miles of roadway using state liquid fuels funds and PECO contributions, and asked council to endorse putting the project out to bid Monday. Officials also said a $100,000 sidewalk grant will fund tree-friendly repairs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6608331,"Days Inn shelter reports early placements; council hears calls for updated homelessness counts and Beacon project progress",0,5044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939641-87226a3b05d12e2d74704d50fcaac653&start=5044&end=5044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939641-87226a3b05d12e2d74704d50fcaac653/thumbnail_5044000.jpg","/articles/6608331/Pottstown/Montgomery-County/Pennsylvania/Days-Inn-shelter-reports-early-placements-council-hears-calls-for-updated-homelessness-counts-and-Beacon-project-progress","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608331-bc78079fecc7657676891dbdac5121bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1773757647&Signature=JU65KztG6ZA6JjJGt-DSOQsoCFJbLpmd0NoOD9DHBj8R137aTGqd343zCZeY8xRm6nKLPJpF43FUp36LAbFdHboO896y7xdIMdTiOcBgVCyE9WNomgb8gVY-I8BqCJIdlk6DFxNa8h02az2XXcn-bcNh8UEQp7nv1kAzVUOEHXlePwjUyN0WNGuCAGG7qentlDmTf0EdXM7lYFeHAP~H67IKjs7pO7TrRea~r-AUM~Vf8vxoBt~ZvE1ZzeNywAp58uwlQ4YpZojsnE~kkBmno~W6WoErb7JJsWSw0o7xWrEIK8Gp8AP1i7vbx9XzdR8Om72Vm2RZj5NIsLZQaZKtxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several councilors and members of the public addressed homelessness and shelter efforts during the April 9 committee meeting, with a mix of commendation for recent operational steps at the Days Inn shelter and requests for clearer information about the size of the unhoused population.

Councilor Proskal reported he toured the Days Inn shelter and said staff there are operating multiple security cameras and have at least three security staff on site. He described early success placing three guests into transition housing and obtaining employment for some clients. “I have absolutely nothing negative to report of what's going on there right now,” Proskal said, and encouraged other councilors to visit the facility.

Public comment included requests for clearer counts of people experiencing homelessness in Pottstown. Planning-commission member Brian Heidier told the council he’d heard varying figures — “anywhere from 100 to 250” — and asked whether the borough or county had a definitive count. Heidier said he supported the Beacon project (referred to in public remarks as a planned shelter/assistance project) but wanted data to match the scope of services.

Staff also asked council to authorize submission of a Montgomery County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for $200,000 for a phase-4 stormwater inlet project that would continue earlier drainage improvements. Manager Keller said the borough’s match would be engineering services paid through the authority’s $50,000 annual contribution for flood/drainage issues. Staff listed the CDBG authorization for Monday’s agenda.

Councilors underlined the need for continued coordination among Beacon (Beacon of Hope referenced by event listings and public comment), county social services and nonprofits. One public commenter praised Beacon’s planned services and asked that the borough support the project. No formal council action was taken at the committee meeting regarding homelessness counts or Beacon; staff listed the CDBG grant authorization for Monday’s meeting.","Councilors and residents discussed homelessness services, heard a positive report from a visit to the Days Inn shelter, and public commenters urged clearer counts of unhoused people as Beacon and other projects proceed. Council also listed a CDBG grant application for stormwater work tied to infrastructure and flood mitigation.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6608336,"Mayor thanks first responders after weekend shooting; councilor urges letter to judge on bail decisions",2499,1496000,3995000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939641-87226a3b05d12e2d74704d50fcaac653&start=1496&end=3995","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939641-87226a3b05d12e2d74704d50fcaac653/thumbnail_1496000.jpg","/articles/6608336/Pottstown/Montgomery-County/Pennsylvania/Mayor-thanks-first-responders-after-weekend-shooting-councilor-urges-letter-to-judge-on-bail-decisions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608336-796e31d67b3411e979e095b5b44cfc52/orig.mp4?Expires=1773757647&Signature=QNT95NlnUgjJzNlZivfOK1yufDSH03ejmH3aBXIYkHPF0Vh0OHcj1Zp656taq41zO9Vf2DZGYTEgALYdV4A~oFf-SxQkWQ~erqxyPeFvZvaIB1idpFkSDNCkd3n4QDYiKURLF1499RAob2e6n1~IdjgK9yyQ5QpYHflOo6gjGVz6TcI9qFV0arnCU0jGx4Liol3BJY4xawI47mv3dLwXdmabiI8wH68jFqneKjYzGARrb-Oe9PIiVjApYRwfoPQb3sNEI1-7LqKxyu1uBPR969fUCRzcMt4efkEuFJAjxsVrzd718fUCGYmCNZ5vPi4foczKvXPRNzFBlnDaDEguQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pottstown officials on April 9 publicly thanked police and other responding agencies after a weekend shooting that hospitalized an officer and left a family grieving.

“First of all, I really want to thank and commend the Pottstown Police Department, along with other agencies that responded to assist,” Mayor Hendrick said, and added the borough was relieved that Officer Whitney was out of the hospital and wished him a full recovery. The mayor also offered condolences to the Ecker family, who “lost a son and a brother,” he said.

In committee discussion Councilor Ryan (identified in the meeting as the speaker leading the proposal) asked council to consider sending a letter to Montgomery County President Judge Carluccio raising concerns about recent bail decisions in cases the borough’s police department has handled. Ryan said some judges outside the local magisterial district had released defendants in serious cases on reduced bail and suggested the letter include a series of case summaries that the police department provided. “If you fire a gun at somebody here in Pottstown, legally, you don't get out the next day,” Ryan said, urging a judicial review of local outcomes.

Councilors discussed the tone and approach for the letter. One suggested highlighting key words in case summaries (for example “gun” or “drug”) and proposing concrete meeting dates to keep the issue on the judge’s calendar. Councilor Monastra and others praised Chief Markovich and the department for their response to the incident and supported the outreach to the judiciary.

Ryan also noted there is pending state legislation (referred to in the meeting as Senate Bill 940) addressing bail criteria; several councilors asked staff to circulate the bill text and consider a letter of support for the legislation as well as the local letter to the president judge. Ryan asked that councilors sign onto the local letter at Monday’s meeting.

No formal motion or vote was recorded at the Committee of the Whole; staff and councilors agreed to list the proposed letter for the Monday agenda and to circulate the proposed state-bill support language for review.

Clarifying details: Officer Whitney was reported by the mayor as out of the hospital; councilors requested staff circulate text of Senate Bill 940 so council can consider a formal position; councilor Ryan will bring a draft letter to be considered and councilors were asked to sign on Monday if they agree.","Following a weekend shooting that hospitalized an officer, Mayor Hendrick and councilors praised police response and discussed drafting a letter to the county’s president judge about bail decisions. Councilor Ryan asked colleagues to join him in sending the letter and possibly supporting state legislation on bail reform.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council to consider multiple zoning and land‑development matters Monday, including shelter, subdivision and variances

Pottstown Council to seek bids for 2025 paving plan; $100,000 sidewalk grant announced

Days Inn shelter reports early placements; council hears calls for updated homelessness counts and Beacon project progress

Mayor thanks first responders after weekend shooting; councilor urges letter to judge on bail decisions