State College Open City Hall Topics

Student Home Definition

2009-12-01T14:11:27-05:00

Should the Borough Council enact an ordinance that prohibits owners of properties from renting rooms to more than one student without obtaining a Student Home Permit?

Introduction

At its meeting of December 7, 2009, Borough Council will consider enacting an amendment to the zoning ordinance to close an existing loophole that allows some homes to become student rentals. The December 7, 2009 Borough Council meeting will be held in Room 304 of the State College municipal building beginning at 7:30 pm.

The zoning amendment removes an exemption that allowed owners of properties to rent rooms to more than one student without obtaining a Student Home Permit. This exemption has allowed students to buy houses and rent to two other students creating a de facto Student Home in areas where Student Homes would not otherwise be permitted by the zoning code. Although any existing rentals under this exception would become non-conforming and allowed to continue renting to students, by eliminating the exemption, any house, whether owner-occupied or not, becomes a student home as soon as two or more unrelated students reside in the house and the minimum space separation between student homes and all other requirements to qualify for a student home rental permit become applicable.

This ordinance may be downloaded as a PDF file.

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Nuisance Gathering Ordinance

2009-12-01T14:04:31-05:00

Should the Borough Council enact the Nuisance Gathering Ordinance?

Introduction

At its meeting of December 7, 2009, Borough Council will consider enacting the Nuisance Gathering Ordinance. The December 7, 2009 Borough Council meeting will be held in Room 304 of the State College municipal building beginning at 7:30 pm.

The Nuisance Gathering Ordinance is intended to reduce the negative impacts that result from parties that become so large or disorderly that the gathering becomes a nuisance. In such circumstances, the gathering host could be held responsible for allowing the party or gathering to become a nuisance and cited under the ordinance.

This ordinance can be downloaded as a PDF file.

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Transportation Plan 2040

2009-11-19T18:22:22-05:00

What are the most important transportation projects for our community? Please share your thoughts with the State College Borough Council.

Introduction

Do you think we should reconfigure West Park Avenue at its intersection with North Atherton Street? How about widening the bridge on South Atherton Street over Slab Cabin Run to make the left turn lanes longer? Should Council support adding 2 lanes to University Drive from Hastings Road to Easterly Parkway? Should we plan a bike facility through downtown?

These are a few of the potential projects listed being considered for the Long Range Transportation Plan 2040 - and now is your chance to tell the Borough Council which ones you think are most important.

The Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO) is developing a new Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) 2040. To comply with federal guidelines, the CCMPO must adopt the LRTP by no later than September 2010. The CCMPO is asking for candidate projects to be included in the new plan.

The table below includes projects that are on the current LRTP, potential new projects to be added, and projects that were previously submitted but were not included on the current LRTP due to fiscal constraints.

State College Borough expects funding constraints will once again limit the projects that will be included on the LRTP; however, Borough Council is encouraged to consider all projects that have merit. The CCMPO will consider projects submitted by all agencies and the final LRTP will be determined based on prioritizing projects from throughout the County.

Previously, Council has adopted a policy to recommend against any projects that add capacity to the existing transportation system in State College. Despite this recommendation, the CCMPO included several projects in State College Borough that added capacity. Council should consider whether or not this previous policy of not adding capacity should also guide the Borough’s recommendations in 2009.

The Planning Commission commented on all projects at their November 12 meeting. The Transportation Commission looked at the existing projects and the potential new projects at their November 10 meeting. The summary of their comments is also included in the table below.

Council will be reviewing the entire list and comments at its November 20, 2009 meeting and will provide direction to staff on which projects to submit to the CCMPO by the December 11 deadline. Staff will then prepare a final report for Council to review and approve at the December 7 meeting.

CRPA staff has clarified that a Project Request Form (PRF) must be completed for all projects that are to remain on or be added to the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) – 2040. The Project Request Form contains 47 questions including the estimated project cost. The following list summarizes projects already on the LRTP, potential new projects for consideration to be added and projects that were previously requested, but were not included due to Fiscal Constraints:

EXISTING PROJECTS ON THE LRTP – (PRF required for each project if to remain on LRTP)

Item	Project Name	Location	Description	TC Comments	PC Comments
1	Park Ave (Atherton to Burrowes)	Borough	Reconfigure Intersection(Add lanes) and upgrade signal	Resubmit	Expand Project from Atherton to Bigler Priority – High
2	Park Ave Widening	Borough, College Twp	CAPACITY – Widen SR3007 (Park Ave) between I-99 and Bigler Road	Resubmit	Resubmit Priority – High
3	Intermodal Transportation Center, Phases I & II	To Be Determined	Construct a new Intermodal Transportation Center to replace Centre Regional Bus Terminal	Resubmit	Resubmit Priority - Low
4	SR 3022 University Drive Bridge (Segment 20)	Borough	Replace University Drive Bridge over East College Avenue	Resubmit	Resubmit Priority - High

POTENTIAL NEW PROJECTS TO BE ADDED – (PRF required for project if submitted)

Item	Project Name	Location	Description	TC Comments	PC Comments
5	Eastern Inner Loop	Borough, Ferguson Twp	Revisit a new road between University Drive and Clinton Avenue	Do Not Include	Include as New Project Priority – High
6	Re-blaze Route 26	Borough, Ferguson Twp, Harris Twp, College Twp	Re-blaze Route 26 from downtown State College to Route 45 and Route 322	Include as New Project but designate as Complete Engineering Traffic Study to …	Include as New Project Priority – High
7	South Atherton Bridge Widening	Borough	Widen bridge over Slab Cabin Run which will allow additional turn lane length between University Drive and Branch Road	Include as New Project	Do Not Include
8	Storm Sewer Replacement on Atherton Street	Borough, Patton Twp, Ferguson Twp, College Twp, Harris Twp	As a Betterment Project, replace storm sewer pipe which parallels Atherton Street (and any cross pipes deemed necessary) along entire length of Atherton Street	Include as New Project	Include as New Project Priority - High
9	Parkway Bike Route	Borough, Ferguson Twp	Incorporate a bicycle route on the Parkway, including any widening necessary between University Drive and the Borough/Ferguson Twp line. Work with Ferguson Twp to extend to Blue Course Drive.	Include as New Project	Include as New Project but Bundle all Bicycle projects into one. Project should be the development of a Comprehensive Regional Bicycle Plan Priority - XX

PROJECTS PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED BUT NOT ON LRTP – (PRF must be completed for project to be considered)

Item	Project Name	Location	Description	TC Comments	PC Comments
10*	University Drive Widening	Borough, College Twp	Add 2 lanes between Hastings Road and Easterly Parkway.		Resubmit Priority – Med
11	SR 26 North – Beaver Ave Relocation	Borough	New 2 lane road between High Street and East College Avenue		Resubmit Priority - Low
12	University Drive Northbound entrance Ramp onto East College Avenue	Borough	Improve sight distance at the University Drive Northbound entrance ramp onto East College Avenue		Resubmit Priority - Med
13*	Blue Course Widening	Borough, Ferguson Twp	Add 2 lanes between College Avenue and Whitehall Road		Do Not Resubmit
14	Proposed Extension of CATA fixed route service: Nittany Crosstown (Waupelani Drive area to Nittany Mall)	Borough, College Twp
15	East/West Bike Facility through downtown	Borough	East/West bike facility through downtown (Calder Way, College Avenue and/or Foster Avenue)
16	Lemont to State College Borough Bike Facility	Borough, College Twp, PSU	Bike facility from Lemont to State College Borough. Alternatives include Elmwood Ave, College Ave, Thompson Woods and the Bathgate property
17	Park Avenue Bike Facility	Borough, College Twp, PSU	Park Avenue bike facility from North Atherton to Fox Hollow Road
18	PSU North/South Bike Route	Borough, PSU	Designated North/South bike route connecting College Ave to Park Ave at McKee St.
19	Lemont to South Atherton Bike Facility	Borough, College Twp	Bike facility along Branch Road from Lemont to South Atherton
20	Pedestrian Improvement Study between College Ave and University Dr	Borough	Install crosswalks, lighting improvements and pedestrian refuge islands on Atherton Street between College Ave and University Drive		Resubmit Priority - High
21	Railroad Avenue Bike Facility	Borough, PSU	Bike facilities along Railroad Ave from North Atherton to Corl Road
22	College Ave Bike Facility	Borough, PSU	Bike facility along College Ave from University Drive to Atherton St
23	Burrowes Road Bike Lane	Borough, PSU	Bike climbing lane on Burrowes Road
24	Shortlidge Road Bike Lane	Borough, PSU	Bike climbing lane on Shortlidge Road

* Previous Council indicated these projects should not be considered further

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Land Use Planning update

2009-11-09T17:06:20-05:00

One individual expressed a 'Neutral' opinion on this topic:

Our local Government agencies seem to beleive they can control the future with regulation. Now that very little development is occuring, planning agencies need to fill time and creat regulation to substain their offices. I'm afraid creating a stringent document of future land and zoning use will turn into another nail in the coffin, as witnessed by the Urban Village procedings. Hindsight is 20/20. Regulating the future in this manner may upset the applecart of prosperity this area has enjoyed for decades.

More about 'Land Use Planning'

Question: Should the State College Area Land Plan, including the future land use map, be used as the documents that will guide the preparation of a set of new land development (i.e., zoning and subdivision/land development) regulations and a new zoning map for State College?

Fostering Sustainable Neighborhoods update

2009-11-09T17:04:58-05:00

As of 5pm on Monday Nov 9, nine individuals participated. Of those, three were in favor of enacting the ordinances, citing the need to maintain a high quality of life through safe and quiet neighborhoods. The six against the ordinance were concerned about holding individuals accountable for the actions of others and/or a mismatch between the severity of the action and the severity of the punishment.

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Question: State College Borough Council is considering enacting three ordinances that help the community move toward addressing the goal of maintaining sustainable neighborhoods. Should Borough Council should enact any or all of these ordinances? Why do you have this opinion?

Land Use Planning

2009-11-06T19:36:42-05:00

Should the State College Area Land Plan, including the future land use map, be used as the documents that will guide the preparation of a set of new land development (i.e., zoning and subdivision/land development) regulations and a new zoning map for State College?

Introduction

At its November 9, 2009 work session, Council will discuss whether or not to approve the State College Area Land Plan, including the future land use map, as the documents that will guide the preparation of a set of new land development (i.e., zoning and subdivision/land development) regulations and a new zoning map for State College. The focus on November 9, 2009 will be on the future land use map portion of the SCLAP.

Download State College Area Land Plan (10.6 MB PDF file)

Download Land Use Map (9.4 MB PDF file)

Download Nov 9 Council Agenda (4.2 MB PDF file)

The Centre Regional Planning Agency (CRPA) worked with College and Ferguson Townships and State College Borough on the preparation of the State College Area Land Plan (the Plan). The goal of the plan is:

Ultimately, the land area plan will be used as a guidance document for a complete update to the Borough of State College’s Zoning Ordinance and provide similar guidance to College and Ferguson Township, particularly in terms of a coordinated and complimentary approach to zoning at the municipal edges. (page iii)

This plan should be used as a guidance document for the establishment of future land use regulations within the study area and also within the three municipalities that participated in this planning effort. (page vii)

Both the College and Ferguson Township Planning Commissions have reviewed the future land use map offered only a few comments and recommended minor changes that did not affect any proposed land uses adjacent to their municipal boundaries with the Borough. The College Township Planning Commission and the Ferguson Township Planning Commission supported the future land use map and recommended their respective elected bodies approve the future land use map.

The State College Borough Planning Commission considered the future land use map at its August 20, 2009 meeting. At that meeting the Planning Commission recommended that staff be prepared to answer the question “What can this plan do for the Borough”? The Planning Commission was also concerned that there may be some friction created between the municipalities involved in this process since the Borough is central to this Area plan and the future land use map.

As Council considers the delineations, staff notes that the multi-family residential designation includes all forms of residential except single-family detached housing. That is, all densities of multiple unit buildings from duplexes to higher density apartment buildings are included in this classification. The land use description key included in the agenda for the November 9, 2009 Borough Council work session provides details on each of the land use categories shown on the future land use map.

Zoning and land development regulations are tools to aid in the implementation of the community’s community development goals and objectives. Recognizing that some adjustments may be necessary in the delineations on the map, staff believes that overall the future land use map reflects the goals of creating a sustainable walkable community. The map identifies areas where mixed use development will be encouraged as well as areas for single-family and multi-family housing, all of which are important components of the community.

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Fostering Sustainable Neighborhoods

2009-10-29T14:11:47-04:00

State College Borough Council is considering enacting three ordinances that help the community move toward addressing the goal of maintaining sustainable neighborhoods. Should Borough Council should enact any or all of these ordinances? Why do you have this opinion?

Introduction

In June 2009, the State College Borough Council received the 'Sustainable Neighborhoods in State College Borough' report prepared by Borough staff under the direction of the Borough Manager. The Sustainable Neighborhoods report contains a number of recommendations on activities the Borough could pursue in response to issues that adversely affect neighborhood sustainability. State College Borough Council is considering enacting three ordinances that help the community move toward addressing the goal of maintaining sustainable neighborhoods.

Borough Council will conduct a public hearing on each of the ordinances on November 2, 2009 at 7:30 pm. These hearings will be conducted in the Council Room of the State College Municipal Building, 234 South Allen Street.

Additional comments can be submitted through November 16, 2009. The proposed ordinances include:

Strengthening the Building Safety Code (formerly called the Property Maintenance Code) provisions for revocation of rental housing permits for persistent over occupancy violations

Implementing a Nuisance Gathering Ordinance that will hold the host(s) or other organizer(s) of an event or gathering responsible if the event is determined to be a public nuisance.

Removing student-owned homes from the exemptions from minimum distance between student rentals.

Do you agree or disagree that Borough Council should enact any or all of these ordinances? Why do you have this opinion.

Download Nuisance Gathering Ordinance (0.1 MB PDF file)
Download 2009 Property Maintenance Code (1.1 MB PDF file)
Download Neighborhood Sustainability Report (3.8 MB PDF file)
Download Fraternity Definition Amendment (0.1 MB PDF file)
Download Student Home Zoning Amendment (0.1 MB PDF file)
Download Campus Fraternities Amendment (0.1 MB PDF file)

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Street Lights

2009-10-26T12:34:53-04:00

Which type of street light do you prefer?

Introduction

State College Borough is evaluating five different types of light sources (i.e., bulbs) for use in the street lights in downtown. The next time you are on the west side of Allen Street across from the State College Municipal Building, please take a look and decide which of five different types of light sources you prefer. The five streetlights are in a row and are labeled "A" through "E" (see map).

We are also interested in any comments you may have on why you prefer that light source over the others.

The light sources under evaluation are:

85 Watt Induction Fluorescent
116 Watt Light Emitting Diode (LED)
100 Watt High Pressure Sodium
165 Watt Induction Fluorescent
50 Watt LED

To minimize bias, the street lights are labeled "A" throught "E", but not with the type of light source.

Note that the above list of light sources is in a random order (e.g., the street light marked with the letter “A” is not necessarily the 85 Watt Induction Fluorescent.)

State College Open City Hall Topics

Student Home Definition

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Nuisance Gathering Ordinance

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Transportation Plan 2040

EXISTING PROJECTS ON THE LRTP – (PRF required for each project if to remain on LRTP)

POTENTIAL NEW PROJECTS TO BE ADDED – (PRF required for project if submitted)

PROJECTS PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED BUT NOT ON LRTP – (PRF must be completed for project to be considered)

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Land Use Planning update

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Fostering Sustainable Neighborhoods update

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Land Use Planning

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Fostering Sustainable Neighborhoods

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Street Lights

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