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Planning commission fails to advance subdivision at 1200 Ogden Drive after public concerns over nearby cell tower
Summary
The Petersburg Borough Planning and Zoning Commission declined to advance a motion to subdivide a parcel at 1200 Ogden Drive after public commenters raised zoning, safety and aesthetic objections — including worries about a proposed cell tower on nearby public land.
The Petersburg Borough Planning and Zoning Commission voted no action on a motion to subdivide a parcel at 1200 Ogden Drive after public testimony raised zoning and safety concerns and questioned whether a proposed adjacent cell tower fits allowed uses.
Nicole McLaren, an adjacent resident, told the commission, “My name is Nicole McLaren. I reside on Casino Street, adjacent to the lot in question,” and said she opposed turning public/open‑use land into a commercial structure. “I don’t see a cell tower as a government building,” McLaren said, arguing the proposal attempts to solve a private industry problem with public land.
Other public commenters raised safety and visual concerns. One resident warned the proposed tower site is adjacent to a fire hall and noted fuel storage nearby, and urged commissioners to consider safety setbacks and aesthetics. Judy Elmer, who has testified at multiple meetings on similar items, asked the commission to consider fall zones and other safety setbacks and said health and environmental concerns, while not always dispositive for zoning, should enter deliberations.
After public comment, a commissioner moved to approve resolution 2026-0101 to subdivide a parcel to create a 10,036‑square‑foot lot at 1200 Ogden Drive. The motion received no second and therefore failed. The chair then moved on to the next agenda item.
Why it matters: The exchange highlights competing priorities in Petersburg — using borough land to create housing and economic opportunities versus preserving open space and limiting infrastructure such as tall communication towers near sensitive uses. Members of the public and several commissioners asked for more design detail and for staff to bring preliminary plans to a future meeting before rezoning or subdivision is finalized.
What’s next: Commissioners said related preliminary plans and applications will be scheduled for the August agenda so the body can review site layouts and phasing before taking final action.
