COLUMBIA SPY

Architect's rendition of the proposed hotel At last week's Columbia Borough Planning Commission meeting, Commission members discussed details of the proposed hotel to be built on the footprint of the former Becker Potato Chip Factory at 12 North 2nd Street. Unfortunately, developer Don Murphy, president and CEO of Cimarron Investments LLC, and attorney Mike Grab did not attend the meeting, even though they had been expected to be there to update the Commission. "I thought we would have Mr. Murphy and Mr. Grab back here this evening" Commission Chair Mary Wickenheiser said. Zoning and Planning Officer Jeff Helm agreed: "I was under the impression that they were going to be here tonight to get us up to speed on property acquisitions that required them to change their former zoning hearing date." At its previous meeting in October , the Commission had recommended that the requested variances and special exceptions be approved by the Zoning Hearing B...

The former Becker Potato Chip factory at 12 North 2nd Street A public hearing by the Columbia Borough Zoning Hearing Board is scheduled for Wednesday, November 27, 2019, at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall, 308 Locust Street.  The board will consider an application by Cimarron Investments LLC, which is requesting special exceptions and variances to build a 6-story, 91-room hotel at 12 North 2nd Street on the site of the former Becker Potato Chip factory. The hearing was originally scheduled for October 30 but was postponed while Cimarron acquired more properties that would allow for increased parking for the hotel. The Columbia Borough Planning Commission approved the hotel proposal last month when it voted unanimously to "recommend favorable consideration" to the Zoning Hearing Board for the granting of the requested variances in Cimarron's application.  Columbia Spy published the backstory  HERE . The following legal notice appears on the  Columbia Borough website....

Ed Diller said the fierce competition in Lancaster for restaurant customers is prompting the move to Columbia. The restaurant's last day in Lancaster will be Dec. 23. In Columbia, Gypsy Kitchen will be the the anchor restaurant inside the historic market house where major renovations are slated to begin in January. With construction expected to last eight months, Diller said he is planning to open in late summer or early fall. Columbia Borough is partnering with CHI St. Joseph Children's Health to  revamp the Columbia Market House building and reinstate a farmers market with a restaurant. The Gypsy Kitchen restaurant in Columbia will have seating for around 100, compared to around 60 at full capacity at the seminary. MORE: https://lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/gypsy-kitchen-to-close-at-lancaster-theology-seminary-become-anchor/article_deba654c-1063-11ea-a56a-0f58007cce78.html

Ardis Goldsborough A Columbia woman who was high on methamphetamine and fentanyl when she crashed head-on into a mother and 11-year-old daughter in Manor Township on April 1 will serve up to 10 years in prison, according to the Lancaster County district attorney's office.  Ardis Goldsborough, 36, was sentenced to 3 to 10 years for causing the crash, the district attorney's office said. She pleaded guilty to vehicular aggravated assault while driving under the influence and other related offense.  MORE: https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-woman-to-serve-to-years-for-crash-that-seriously/article_ac4f8044-106b-11ea-ace4-ff513815c2ab.html

Robert Flerx, Jr . A Columbia man convicted of sex offenses has been sent prison sentence after failing to complete mandatory treatment during his probation. Robert M. Flerx, 26, was sentenced to 2 to 5 years in prison by Lancaster County Judge Howard Knisely on Nov. 13 for numerous parole and probation violations stemming from convictions in 2016 and 2018. MORE: https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/convicted-sex-offender-sent-to-state-prison-after-failing-treatment/article_29e9be58-0f99-11ea-890c-3f6fc1523090.html

Proposed Rezoning Map for Columbia Borough According to sources: At its November 25 meeting, the Lancaster County Planning Commission (LCPC) approved Columbia Borough's rezoning proposal by 6-1, with commission member Edward Fisher being the only no vote. The proposal will rezone about 300 Columbia properties to commercial. Fisher said that in all his years he has never seen such an enormous rezoning proposal. He also said that it was putting the cart before the horse in that Columbia does not have a final comprehensive plan but is requesting rezoning. In essence, Columbia Borough is asking for a large area to be rezoned before a plan is put in place. Areas will be rezoned to commercial with no finalized comprehensive plan. The proposal includes 55 acres of McGinness's property that is now changed to redevelopment. Residents Michael Stark and Darlene Brown, and Meg Schaefer, curator of the Wright Mansion, spoke at the meeting. LCPC'S Laura Proctor spoke on Columbi...