Council to study discrepancy between zoning ordinance, map
CALIFORNIA – California Borough Council is looking into a possible discrepancy between the zoning ordinance and the zoning map that could affect where student housing can be located. Councilman Gerald Gardner said the issue recently came to light when complaints were filed regarding student housing at 317 Ash St. The property owner was told that the site is not zoned for student housing.
“A physical description was read into the record. If the map doesn’t match, it is wrong,” said Councilman Jon Bittner. “We’re never satisfied with our zoning ordinance or our zoning map. Some day we just need to say this is what it is and we’re going to stick with it.”
There have also been some questions regarding the fees to be charged for inspections for the larger apartment buildings and dormitories.
“We need to clarify the rates for various buildings,” said Councilman Patsy Alfano. “There hasn’t always been consistency on how different constituents were handled in the past.”
The council will meet 9 a.m. June 17 with HMT, the borough’s new code enforcement firm, to discuss inspection rates and other issues.
In other matters, council voted 6-1 to hire Fayette Engineering to handle all aspects of the current downtown beautification project. Fayette Engineering submitted a proposal to handle the project for $13,750.
Council President Sheila Chambers noted that if the Washington County Redevelopment Authority handles the project, it would be paid for with Community Development Block Grant funds. By using Fayette Engineering or any other private contractor to handle the project, the money must come from the general fund, with the CDBG money being held for a future project.
“If we do it with the Redevelopment Authority, we can’t start until next year. Let’s spend the money and get this done,” Bittner said.
Chambers agreed, saying Fayette Engineering has established a positive track record with the borough.
“I think we have seen that they stay on top of a project and get it done,” Chambers said.
Alfano cast the only dissenting vote on the motion.
Bittner reported that the emergency sewer line project along Route 88 north of downtown is about 85 percent complete, with all paving and other work expected to be done by next Wednesday.
Council voted to sell rebar left over from a previous sewer project for scrap because it is rusted and could not be reliably used in a construction project. Bittner said the remaining rebar cost the borough about $80,000.
“It kills me to have to make this motion,” Bittner said.
Alfano and Gardner voted against it.
Council also voted to scrap a 1986 Ford van. The vehicle had been advertised, but no bids were received. One bid for $660 was received for the borough’s 2001 Ford Crown Victoria. Council voted to reject the bid until the book value of the car is determined.
Council also tabled action on a land swap with the Student Association Inc. of California University of Pennsylvania. The university needs a triangle of land owned by the borough near the campus entrance for its loop road, while the borough needs a portion of the old Harris farm now owned by SAI for a pump station for a sewerage project.
In addition, council denied a request to rent four parking stalls on Second Street, opting instead to look into turning a vacant lot in that area into a leased parking lot.
Bittner said that using borough workers it should cost about $3,500 to clear the lot and prepare it for parking. Bittner estimated 20 to 30 vehicles could be parked on the property, which would generate income for the borough.
The council is also looking into purchasing additional electronic parking meters and checking into repair costs for meters that recently failed calibration tests.