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Commission begins multi‑month SALDO review, flags landscaping, lighting and waiver questions
Summary
Commissioner John introduced a multi‑month effort to revise the boroughs Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO), highlighting goals including clearer design standards, developer guarantees, standalone ordinances for lighting/signs/sidewalks, and rules for waivers and reverse subdivisions.
The Gettysburg Planning Commission on June 15 began a planned, months‑long review of the boroughs Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO). Commissioner John framed the agenda as technical and procedural work required by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code and urged commissioners to consider practical changes that could improve clarity and predictability for applicants and the borough.
John summarized SALDOs purposes: setting design standards, coordinating public improvements, protecting taxpayers by requiring developer‑funded infrastructure where appropriate, and ensuring safety and accessibility for emergency services. He described common SALDO elements — sketch, preliminary and final plan stages — and said staff will seek opportunities to streamline some ministerial reviews and consider administrative minor subdivision procedures where appropriate.
Key topics commissioners highlighted during the discussion included:
- Landscaping and maintenance guarantees: members said current planting requirements are often difficult to meet in infill redevelopment and suggested multi‑year performance guarantees or bonds to ensure plantings survive the first seasons.
- Lighting and signage: several commissioners favored treating lighting and signage as standalone ordinances and then requiring SALDO compliance by reference, which would keep SALDO focused on in‑ground improvements while ensuring consistent enforcement for stand‑alone permits.
- Waivers and appeals: commissioners asked where the planning commission can lawfully grant waivers versus when matters must go to the zoning hearing board; staff and the solicitor will need to provide legal guidance about which provisions are waivable and how appeals would be structured.
- Reverse subdivisions/lot consolidations and conditional approvals: commissioners raised that long‑standing conditional approvals on the planners report should have clearer time limits and that requiring draft deeds during lot consolidations may improve follow‑through.
John said staff will bring drafts and topic slides to the next borough council workshop and will return detailed proposals to the planning commission over the coming half year. "This is going to be one that's going to take some time," he said, asking commissioners and the public to review the materials and attend upcoming workshops.
The commission did not take formal action on SALDO at the June 15 meeting; it scheduled further study and public workshops as part of an iterative revision process.
