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Planning bureau seeks $70,000 for historic digitization and FEMA map update as zoning reforms are planned

Harrisburg City Council · December 9, 2025

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Summary

Director Jeff Knight told council the planning bureau added a $70,000 consulting line to support a PHMC historic materials digitization grant (about $25,000) and a FEMA repetitive‑loss area analysis (approx. $45,000); Knight also previewed proposed signage and use‑table zoning amendments and Munis data cleanup.

Jeff Knight, director of the Bureau of Planning, told council on Dec. 8 that the department will add $70,000 to its consulting line to support two near‑term projects: an anticipated Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) grant to digitize and host historic photographs and documents, and a FEMA‑recommended repetitive loss area analysis (RLAA) update necessary for continued Community Rating System (CRS) participation.

Knight said the PHMC project is reimbursable and the bureau expects roughly $25,000 in matching grant work. The FEMA RLAA update — work to identify properties FEMA designates as repetitive loss — was budgeted at roughly $45,000. Together they account for the $70,000 consulting increase in the proposed 2026 budget.

Knight also described efforts to prepare the department for the Munis migration by cleansing property and housing‑unit records, and previewed zoning code amendments planned for early 2026 to modernize signage rules and a use table intended to reduce routine zoning relief applications. He said filling the deputy director/zoning officer vacancy remains a priority and that improved online applications and user information are being posted on the new municipal website.

Council members asked for timelines and expressed support for the digitization work and FEMA compliance steps; Knight said he expects some work to proceed in 2026 depending on grant award timelines.