Columbia council advances ordinance packet; lengthy debate over rental-property rules and temporary certificates

Columbia Borough Council on March 3 moved forward with advertising a set of ordinances while devoting the bulk of the workshop to a contentious, detailed review of a proposed rental-property ordinance.

The packet of proposed ordinances reviewed for advertisement included measures on key-lock boxes, volunteer-service tax credits, fire-code alignment, food-truck operations and revised River Park parking rules; councilmembers asked staff to remove obsolete references (for example to a 1968 Pennsylvania agreement) and to consolidate advertising notices to reduce cost. Council also scheduled further review for the food-truck ordinance after the solicitor requested additional time.

Paul, who led the ordinance presentation, walked council through the rental-property draft (I-66) and highlighted major sections. Council debated whether to allow a 12-month temporary certificate of occupancy for certain transfers, with one member suggesting that a 12-month temporary certificate "opens us up" and proposing a shorter window. The ordinance currently would allow a temporary occupancy while final inspections are completed, but several members said they preferred accelerating the inspection schedule or limiting the temporary period.

Council also pressed for clearer off-street parking language. The draft requires a minimum of two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit on-premise; members discussed whether that standard should apply uniformly to accessory dwelling units (ADUs), converted owner-occupied houses and newly built units. The group debated removing the code-official's ability to grant certain variances and leaving such determinations solely to the borough's zoning hearing board.

On ADUs, members asked for a formal definition and for the ordinance to distinguish between permanent, permitted ADUs and temporary structures or trailers that are not intended to be dwellings. One council member said the ordinance must prevent homeowners from converting garages or placing temporary units in ways that "cheat the tax system."

No final vote was taken on the rental ordinance; council instructed staff to incorporate drafting changes (shorter temporary-CO windows, clearer parking-on-premise language, a defined ADU term and a consistent appeals path) and return the ordinance for formal advertisement once those edits and legal reviews are complete. The council opted to advertise most of the packet for public notice, but the food-truck rule will receive additional solicitor review before it is advertised.

The next procedural step is an updated ordinance posted for public comment and a formal advertising period before any final council vote.