Crafton council weighs next steps on redrafted zoning code after county review

Crafton Borough Council spent substantial time on Sept. 24 reviewing a redraft of the borough zoning ordinance that the county planning office returned with comments.

Resident speakers raised concerns about minimums and parking. Cody Sheets said removing minimum square-footage requirements and not requiring a borough-wide impact analysis could allow cumulative pressure on infrastructure: “I think it's unreasonable to have no square footage requirements … and mildly reckless … to not have any impact analysis done.” Nicole Kurvin, another resident, asked specific questions about climate resilience, small-business displacement, and parking impacts following the county’s review comments.

Planning staff and Solicitor Steve told council the county submitted 17 comments, most of them de minimis (typos, cross references) and that the borough legal team and the planning commission had analyzed whether subdivision technical standards should live in the Saldo (subdivision and land development ordinance) or remain in the zoning code. Staff recommended retaining certain technical design provisions in the zoning code to avoid creating a loophole.

Three paths and schedule

Planning staff presented three alternatives for council: 1) accept the “clean code” posted online and move to the formal public notice and hearing process; 2) take more time for internal review before deciding; or 3) propose substantive revisions, which would return the draft to the planning commission and the county for another review cycle.

Solicitor Steve summarized the public-notice requirements and timeline if council chooses to proceed: two newspaper advertisements (at least one week apart) and a public hearing. He said adoption must occur within 60 days of the first advertisement, or the advertising process must restart. Staff sketched an illustrative schedule assuming a council decision at the Oct. 9 meeting: first advertisement Oct. 23, public hearing Nov. 13, and possible adoption at the Nov. 24 meeting (or adoption could be scheduled for Dec. 11 if council preferred).

Council direction

Several council members asked for time to read the redline and county comments. Council ultimately agreed to take roughly two weeks for members to review the posted documents and to revisit the matter at the Oct. 9 meeting; if no material changes are proposed at that time, staff indicated the borough could begin advertising for a November hearing.

Provenance

Topic introduction excerpt: “Alright. Just wanna talk, speak on the zoning draft, that was sent back from Allegheny County… I think it's unreasonable to have no square footage requirements.” (Resident Cody Sheets, public comment.)

Topic finish excerpt: Solicitor Steve: “So, if on the ninth, you all came together and were happy or, you know, at least ready to move it forward with no material changes, we would start the advertising… first ad would be in on the 23rd… hearing thirteenth.”

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