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Bridgeport council sends opposition letter to state bills, advertises multiple ordinances and approves several leases
Summary
At its March 12 meeting Bridgeport Borough Council voted to send a letter to Rep. Tim Briggs opposing HB2109 and HB2186, authorized advertising three ordinances (LIC district updates, business permits, data center zoning) and approved lease agreements for four borough properties.
Bridgeport Borough Council moved from its work session into regular business on March 12 and approved a set of noncontroversial motions including a letter to a state representative, the advertisement of three draft ordinances and execution of multiple lease agreements.
Council authorized sending a letter to state Representative Tim Briggs opposing House Bills HB2109 and HB2186, which the council described as proposals that would prohibit municipalities from limiting the number of unrelated people living together and could constrain local housing controls. The motion was recorded in the meeting as moved by “Mister Shanks” and seconded by “Miss Campbell,” and carried by voice vote.
On zoning and business regulation, council voted to re‑advertise ordinance "20 26 0 3," which amends regulations for the Light Industrial Commercial (LIC) district to add parking requirements, a parking‑in‑lieu fee for multifamily and mixed‑use projects, and development standards including building stepbacks, pedestrian connectivity and façade design standards. Council also authorized advertising ordinance "20 26 0 4" to amend business license and permit provisions (staff noted the current fee is $35 per year and that a $50 annual fee is in the range found in other municipalities) and ordinance "20 26 0 5" to add definitions and standards for data centers in borough zoning.
The council approved lease agreements for borough property at 221 Mill Street (CNS Research Corporation, second floor), 221 Mill Street (garage and parking to Alvaria Associates), 142 2nd Street (Edward Renstein / EV Automotive) and 16 2nd Street (Kyle's Elite Auto Services). Motions for the leases were made and seconded and carried by voice votes; specific tallies were not recorded in the transcript.
Why it matters: The housing bills in Harrisburg could limit local zoning tools if enacted; council action is an expression of municipal policy preference. The ordinances being advertised represent early steps in local land‑use regulation and business licensing changes; advertising starts the public notice process rather than adopting final rules. The leases place borough property into active use and were approved without extended debate.
Votes at a glance: - Authorize letter to Rep. Tim Briggs opposing HB2109 and HB2186 — motion carried (mover: Mister Shanks; second: Miss Campbell). - Re‑advertise ordinance 20 26 0 3 (LIC district changes) — approved (voice vote). - Advertise ordinance 20 26 0 4 (business licenses and permits) — approved (voice vote). - Advertise ordinance 20 26 0 5 (data center zoning definitions) — approved (voice vote). - Execute lease: CNS Research Corporation (221 Mill St., 2nd floor) — approved. - Execute lease: Alvaria Associates (221 Mill St., garage/parking) — approved. - Execute lease: Edward Renstein / EV Automotive (142 2nd St.) — approved. - Execute lease: Kyle's Elite Auto Services (16 2nd St.) — approved.
What was not decided: Advertising an ordinance is a procedural step that starts public notice; no ordinance was adopted at this meeting. The letter is a policy statement from the council but does not change local law.
Next steps: The advertised ordinances will follow the borough’s public‑notice and adoption process; lease paperwork will be completed per staff direction and recorded as usual in borough records.
