Joseph A. Kauer

The meeting commenced with a roll call, confirming all members were present and noting the absence of public comment. The primary agenda items focused on the annual reorganization, including the call for nominations and election of the chair, vice chair, and secretary, all of whom were elected to retain their prior roles or accepted nominations. A significant portion of the discussion involved the adoption of minutes from the December 2025 meeting. New business transitioned into a detailed discussion regarding the structure and utility of an updated project spreadsheet, which combined two previous documents. The discussion focused on refining criteria for project prioritization, specifically debating the necessity of columns such as 'Benefit to the Community' versus establishing a quantifiable formula based on cost, benefit, difficulty, and time to completion to better inform decision-making for short, medium, and long-term projects.

The Planning Commission reviewed and decided on several agenda items. For New Business, the commission voted to recommend approval to the Borough Council for the May Avenue Plan of Lots, a minor subdivision to create two buildable lots. Under Old Business, updates were provided on the Comprehensive Plan Project Implementation, including the status of traffic engineering proposals for North-end Washington Avenue Revitalization and the adoption of the Downtown Zoning District amendment. Updates on the Active Transportation Plan included tabling discussion on the Liberty Street Pedestrian Path, receiving notification from PENNDOT regarding the denial of the Chartiers Street crossing due to high cost and right-of-way issues, with PENNDOT proceeding with an alternate route. The commission also discussed potential playground locations on the west side of Bridgeville Park and received updates on the Baldwin Street Pollinator Garden improvements. Furthermore, a motion was passed recommending the Parking Authority install Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in public lots, specifically Lot 2. Discussion on Dark Sky Lighting Regulations was tabled until the January meeting. Finally, the commission began prioritizing projects for the 2026 1-5 Year Plan, focusing on items from the Comprehensive and Active Transportation Plans.

The meeting began with a roll call. A motion was made and approved to adopt the minutes from the March 24, 2025 meeting. Under old business, the commission reviewed and considered the revised Chapala Corner Block Plan of Blocks subdivision application, which reverses a 2024 lot consolidation affecting properties at number one Euing Avenue and 340 Presley Road. The reversal was sought because the applicants were unable to evict tenants from the front house that was slated for demolition under the consolidation plan, making it easier to sell the property. The commission made a recommendation to the borough council regarding this application. Following this, the discussion shifted to the downtown zoning district update, where feedback gathered from a recent well-attended sharet meeting was summarized. The discussion focused heavily on finalizing the use table for the downtown district, reviewing uses that received high public interest, such as high technology industries, hospitals, and maker space, and debating the appropriateness of allowing uses like hospitals and even addressing concerns related to pharmacy proximity and vape shops within the zoning ordinance structure.

The meeting commenced with a roll call followed by a brief public comment period where no public comments were offered. Key discussions centered on the downtown zoning ordinance (Draft Ordinance 1034), including defining the district's limits. Significant deliberation occurred regarding the classification and regulation of marijuana dispensaries and pharmacies, noting state law mandates that dispensaries and pharmacies must be treated identically regarding conditional use allowances and separation distances, specifically the 500-foot rule between dispensaries. The need to define 'vape shop' more strictly and ensure compliance with state medical marijuana regulations was emphasized. Furthermore, discussions involved setting parameters for future steps, such as scheduling a public hearing for the ordinance in September after incorporating feedback from the solicitor and updating the draft based on detailed recommendations concerning medical clinics like methadone and suboxone facilities. There was also a brief, tangential discussion about exterior building aesthetics like murals.

The meeting commenced with the annual reorganization, including nominations and elections for the Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary positions. Discussions then moved to the adoption of the December 2, 2024, meeting minutes. Under new business, the board discussed scheduling the 2025 cleanup day following the April 22nd birthday, tentatively setting it for April 26, 2025, with plans to coordinate volunteer recruitment through organizations like the Girl Scouts and utilizing platforms like PeachJar. The primary old business item involved initiating the implementation project for the comprehensive plan, specifically addressing the potential creation of a Downtown Zoning District. A consultant presented on the current zoning, noting that the existing Mixed Use District is lenient regarding uses and setbacks, and discussed the process for creating a new, distinct downtown district, including boundary definition and inventorying existing uses to manage non-conformities. Procedural matters regarding public outreach, including scheduling working meetings and planning a targeted workshop for property owners and developers, were also covered.