Council to publish county review of zoning rewrite; $325,000 downtown grant design moves to planning commission

Borough staff told council Sept. 11 that they received a county review of the proposed zoning ordinance update that contained 17 recommendations, most of them minor edits, and that a summary memo and the county feedback will be published to the public within days. Manager and planning staff said three recommendations appeared substantive: a county suggestion to move multiple zoning provisions into the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO), a proposed time limit for temporary uses, and a clarification regarding sign removal consistent with case law. Staff said the borough’s planning solicitor and council solicitor reviewed the county’s advice and both advised against moving those zoning controls into the SALDO, and the memo will note that decision. Staff described the statutory process and timeline: once council initiates the advertisement period, the borough must advertise twice during a 60‑day period and hold a public hearing before a final vote. Staff said they expect to publish the county memo “tomorrow or Monday” and that the council will schedule the public hearing as part of the required advertising process. Separately, the borough presented plans for spending a $325,000 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (DCED) grant for pedestrian and business-district improvements. Engineers described three nonfinal design approaches — focusing on the roundabout/circle, focusing improvements along East Crafton Avenue and Stots, or a mixed approach — and noted constraints where new streetlights or amenities would block sidewalks. Staff said the grant is primarily for construction and materials, with up to 10% allowable for engineering costs. Staff said the DCED-funded designs will go to the planning commission for review; none of the approaches is final and components can be mixed and matched to fit the $325,000 budget. Ending: The county review, staff memo and draft ordinance text will be published to the public; the planning commission will review DCED grant concepts and council will follow statutory advertisement and public hearing requirements before acting on the zoning ordinance.