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Staff outlines Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance rewrite, targets November completion
Summary
Staff updated council on a rewrite of the borough’s subdivision and land development ordinance (SALO), highlighting improvement guarantees, landscaping and lighting standards, stormwater and floodplain concerns (Stevens Run), administrative minor subdivisions and possible new property-classification approaches for townhomes.
Planning staff told the Borough Council on June 22 that the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALO) rewrite remains in active review with the planning commission and is expected to be completed in November.
John Whitmore (staff) said the rewrite aims to make infrastructure more affordable and maintainable, strengthen improvement guarantees so the borough can complete public improvements if developers do not, and add clearer design standards for sidewalks, landscaping and lighting. He highlighted stormwater and floodplain work — including potential channel-wall improvements on Stevens Run — as a major technical issue mapped to the ordinance.
Other items under consideration include mobile-home-park design standards (to reflect evolving state definitions), multi-year maintenance guarantees for landscaping and required developer agreements to clarify responsibilities. Staff also described administrative minor-subdivision review to expedite small parcel adjustments and discussed property-classification changes to allow sale of individual units in certain townhouse or duplex configurations.
Why it matters: Clearer SALO requirements and stronger improvement guarantees can reduce long-term maintenance liabilities for the borough and provide predictability for developers and property owners.
What’s next: Staff and the planning commission will continue drafting ordinance language and return to council with proposals and specific code text later in the review process.
