COLUMBIA SPY

Columbia Spy has obtained an internal memorandum (shown below) of the Lancaster County Planning Commission, which is a "staff draft of a review scheduled for discussion and action" at the commission's November 25, 2019 meeting. The memorandum lays out details of Columbia Borough's proposed changes to its Zoning Ordinance Map and text amendments. The map is the foundation of the borough's rezoning initiative, currently underway.  A pdf of the document can be downloaded  HERE . At Tuesday's Columbia Borough Planning Commission meeting, Chairperson Mary Wickenheiser said that Vice Chair Jeff Helm, Borough Manager Rebecca Denlinger, and she plan to attend the November 25 meeting. Columbia Spy published an article on Tuesday's meeting  HERE . More information on the proposed rezoning is posted on the Columbia Borough website HERE . (Scroll down.)

Columbia is in desperate need of commercial tax base. That's according to Zoning & Planning Officer Jeff Helm and is the apparent reason for the borough's rezoning push. Helm made the remark at Tuesday night's Planning Commission meeting in response to a question by Councillor-Elect Sharon Lintner. Lintner had asked why rezoning was necessary. In-home businesses and assessments   Rezoning will not affect the tax assessment of residential properties unless an in-house business is added, Helm said. Some types of "invisible" businesses (for example, internet-based) are already permitted in-house under current ordinance. Commission member Justin Evans said properties will be assessed according to use. "If you turn it into commercial space, the value of a thousand square feet of commercial space is going to be significantly higher," Evans said. Helm added that spot assessments could be triggered when permits are sent to the county office and ...

[Peggy A. Knoll read the following letter at the November 12, 2019 Columbia Borough Council meeting. It is published here with her permission.] Please note that the date of this publication, the Trustees and Executors of the George and Dorothy McGinness estate Peggy A. Knoll and James G. McGinness are registering a formal document as required under Pennsylvania code Title 18, Section 3503 code which details the requirements to name and prosecute violators to private property. A preliminary document was presented at the Borough Council meeting on November 12, 2019, read openly to the attending public and entered into record. The document was notarized and delivered to the Borough Council as well as the Police Chief of the Columbia Borough, on November 15, 2019. This will also be posted externally to comply with all requirements allowing prosecution. Our legal representatives are involved as well. Violators and those who trespass on our property will be prosecuted to the fullest ...

On Friday, November 22 from 5-9 p.m., Sparrow Website and Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce host Art On The River, an exhibition showcasing local high-school students artwork inspired by the Susquehanna River. Join us for the art exhibition featuring local high-school student artwork inspired by the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Sparrow Websites is partnering with the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce to provide this free event that will include door prizes, Hors d'oeuvres, and juried prizes for the student artists. To RSVP for the event, for additional information, or for other questions, please visit www.sparrowwebsites.com . [Source: Press release]