Cody Rhoads

New business included a discussion regarding the Blasting Ordinance, with the water and sewer committee scheduled to meet with Entech to review it, and a commitment for the Borough Engineer to work on a final draft for the next meeting. During the review of ordinances, there was discussion concerning Elizabethtown Area Water Authority (EAWA)'s willingness to sell land and the necessary impact studies for a potential Lake Resort ordinance. The commission also reviewed North Cornwall's ordinance on data centers, focusing on water needs and permitting likelihood, and subsequently moved to have Solicitor Cleary review the ordinance. Furthermore, the commission requested draft ordinances for wind/solar farms and EV charging stations. Discussions also covered the definition and implementation of a blight ordinance, comparing options used by other municipalities, and briefly touched upon homeless encampments and short-term rentals. In the area of Developer's Agreements, the current agreement was reviewed for adequacy, noting that unique clauses could be added under 'Special Conditions'. Finally, regarding Beauty Strips, requested changes should be incorporated into the landscaping section of the subdivision ordinance, using the Northgate beauty strip as a reference point.

Key discussions included public comments regarding the Knoll agenda item and updates on the Elizabethtown Area Water Authority (EAWA) review process for land parcels the borough intends to purchase, including feasibility study results for proposed roads near water sources. New business involved interviews with two candidates, Greg Roussey and Dale Reppert, for an open position on the Commission, culminating in a motion to recommend Greg Roussey for appointment to the Council. The Commission also reviewed the status of the 211 Burd Coleman Road porch enclosure request, noting general alignment on focusing architectural review on the front and sides of homes in the historic district. For The Cliffs at Iron Valley, the dedication of portions of Iron Valley Drive and Cobalt Alley was discussed, with a motion passed to recommend approval contingent upon an agreed-upon adjustment to lot dimensions. Finally, the review of several new ordinances, including those for camping, data centers, and wind/solar farms, was postponed to a subsequent special meeting.

The meeting included a reorganization segment where the chairman and vice chairman were appointed. Key public comments addressed extended power outages experienced by residents, leading to a recommendation for the Council to request a Met-Ed representative attend a future meeting to discuss infrastructure issues. Concerns were raised regarding ongoing blasting damage at Quinn Estates, prompting the engineer to review the developer's agreement. New business included discussions on development plans for 'The Cliffs at Iron Valley' and 'The Knoll at Iron Valley,' focusing on density, housing style, and potential parking/traffic impact. A review of the existing land use map for the County Comprehensive Plan was also mentioned.

The meeting commenced with the swearing in of elected officials, including the Mayor, who also performed a ceremonial swearing in of some council members. Key organizational appointments were made unanimously: Bruce Harris as Council President, Eric Tobias as Council Vice President, and Bruce Conrad as Council Pro-Tem. The Council considered and subsequently appointed MASS, LLC, represented by Mr. Jeff Steckbeck, as the borough's engineer, contingent on Mr. Steckbeck's retirement agreement and a reduced hourly rate. Resolutions were adopted appointing members to the EIT Committee (Resolution 2026-1) and the Zoning Hearing Board (Resolution 2026-2), with an alternate ZHB position remaining vacant. Additionally, Bruce Conrad was reappointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission, and Greg Roussey was appointed as the Great Lebanon Refuse Authority representative. The meeting concluded following brief public comment.

The Cornwall Borough Planning Commission meeting focused on several new business items and ordinance reviews. Key discussions included the status of a lawful uses ordinance forwarded to the County Planning Department and ongoing review of a Blasting Ordinance, which involved detailed input from an expert regarding DEP regulations, vibration limits, damage claim procedures, and insurance requirements. The Commission decided to place a hold on changes moving uses between zoning districts pending determination about a potential Lake Resort Community. Additionally, the Commission reviewed components of a recently passed data center ordinance from North Cornwall, discussing lot size, setbacks, and utility demands, and briefly reviewed an ordinance for solar farms, scheduling further review for the next meeting.