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Staff reports progress on rental outreach, development reviews and code enforcement
Summary
Building, Housing and Code Enforcement reported a successful landlord open house, increased Saturday enforcement and planning-commission recommendations for a completed data-center ordinance; staff flagged outstanding items on several development plans.
Aaron Fluke, the borough’s Building, Housing and Code Enforcement official, told the Smart Growth Committee the rental season began in April and that a May 1 landlord open house was well attended and focused on tenant-landlord forms, a new online portal and the department’s point-based disciplinary system.
“The session was really well attended, better than last year,” Fluke said, and he credited university representatives and administrative staff for helping landlords navigate the portal and new requirements. He said the updated tenant-landlord form no longer collects extensive parking information and that staff provided one-on-one assistance for users who needed guidance.
Fluke said Saturday code-enforcement shifts have reduced emergency stop-work orders and increased permit filings: “The presence in the neighborhoods have made it a lot better so that people are coming in and we’re doing more permits.” He described outreach letters and in-person follow-ups for café and sidewalk-management permits to promote ADA-compliant layouts and avoid citations.
On land-use items, Fluke said the planning commission completed a review of the data-center ordinance after experts provided a noise-control section and forwarded the ordinance to council with a recommendation. He also said the commission conducted a preliminary review of a development at 410 South High, where outstanding items such as height calculations and front elevations must be provided before a final recommendation.
The committee briefly discussed zoning-board decisions: Fluke noted a March denial of relief at 436 North Church Street and an upcoming June 15 hearing for an appeal at 255 East Evans Street under West Chester zoning ordinance 12 112304.
The committee did not take formal action on these status reports. The items will move through the planning commission and council as applicants submit missing materials and the enforcement office continues portal education.
