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Planning commission reverts Grandview parcels to conservancy, discusses medium‑term rentals and other zoning bullets
Summary
The Crafton Borough Planning Commission voted to revert 11 Grandview parcels back to Conservancy, moved a Thomas Street strip into Community Residential, accepted staff advice to limit an exemption to public utilities, and deferred formal action on medium‑term rental rules pending staff‑drafted language.
The Planning Commission discussed multiple zoning bullets raised at an April 2 public open house and took several recommendations to carry forward to Borough Council and staff action.
On the Grandview parcels question—citizen and emailed input led commissioners to vote to return 11 parcels on Grandview from the previously proposed Community Residential designation back to Conservancy because of documented steep slopes and landslide potential. Commissioners noted the parcels already contain houses (including three multi‑unit structures) and that existing slope and build‑area constraints apply regardless of zoning; however, keeping Conservancy preserves longer-term limits on rebuilding in the event of substantial damage. The motion to revert the parcels to Conservancy passed by voice vote.
On medium‑term rentals (stays longer than standard short‑term rental definitions but shorter than full residential leases), Solicitor Mandy Culhane and staff advised the commission that the simplest regulatory approach would be to expand the short‑term rental definition (for example extending the current 30‑day threshold to 60 or 90 days) so medium‑term rentals would be covered by existing registration and caps; alternatively, a separate ordinance could be drafted. Commissioners chose not to adopt immediate changes and asked staff to draft sample language and enforcement provisions (parking limits, registration, occupancy caps, noise/maintenance standards) for a future meeting.
On the exemption provision in Section 225.11 (buildings exempt from regulations), staff recommended limiting the exemption to public utilities; Solicitor Culhane recommended keeping the common zoning practice of exempting only public utilities rather than a broader “reasonably necessary” public‑welfare clause. The commission voted to follow that recommendation and leave the exemption limited to public utilities for the draft code that will go to Council.
The commission also considered the Linden properties (school‑district/borough land). Council requested no immediate change to the zoning pending its discussions with the school district; the commission deferred to Council and took no zoning action there.
Finally, residents asked to address nonconforming lot size on Thomas Street; staff recommended Community Residential (CR) as the most appropriate label to reflect attached single‑family dwellings and reduce nonconformity. The commission voted to move the Thomas Street strip into CR.
Commissioners repeatedly distinguished discussion items (public comments and staff recommendations) from formal actions. For medium‑term rentals staff will return with draft ordinance language; other adopted recommendations (Grandview reversion, CR for Thomas Street, utilities exemption) will be forwarded to Council for its review and final action.
