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Council agrees to pursue broadband designation, discusses zoning and parking changes
Summary
Council authorized pursuing an Erie Area COG Broadband Ready Community designation, agreed to select WRA, LLP for a school-crossing feasibility engineer, and instructed the solicitor to draft zoning amendments to consider above-ground pools on adjoining vacant lots and 144-square-foot removable sheds; parking ordinance changes were also discussed.
On July 9 Union City Borough Council voted to pursue a Broadband Ready Communities designation and discussed multiple land-use and planning items including a school-crossing feasibility study, proposed zoning changes, and parking ordinance amendments.
Borough Manager Cindy Wells presented the Broadband Ready Communities recommendation and the council voted to proceed with a public meeting and resolution authorizing the Erie Area Council of Governments (EACOG) to serve as the borough’s Municipal Broadband Champion. Councilor Kerns moved, Councilor Joyce seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. Wells said the designation “creates an opportunity for other ISPs to come into the Borough creating other options for residents” and noted the borough’s permitting requirements were already within program recommendations.
Council also approved moving forward with the Feasibility Study for a school crossing and agreed to use WRA, LLP as the county-appointed engineer for the project. In a separate discussion, councilors considered amending the zoning ordinance to allow above-ground pools on adjoining vacant lots and to permit removable sheds up to 144 square feet on gravel bases, skids or pillars without a setback from an adjoining property line (front-yard setbacks would still apply). Solicitor Tim Wachter was asked to draft suggested language for council review.
The Street Supervisor reported on proposed parking ordinance changes that include removing front-end parking in Municipal Lot #2; angled parking counts will be calculated and the Solicitor will draft an amended ordinance for council review. The council was also alerted that the RT 97 project grant budget included $10,000 for engineering and inspection but that delays or unexpected conditions could increase monitoring costs that the borough would need to cover.
