If a developer puts a new building on Washington Avenue, should it be required to have the same style of exterior as the buildings currently there?
What types of zoning and development could help revitalize Baldwin Street?
Are there other zoning changes that should Bridgeville embrace or reject?
Issues surrounding the Bridgeville Planning Commission dominated the borough council meeting held on Sept. 12.
The overarching theme—the planning commission plays a crucial role in shaping Bridgeville’s future.
Development is taking place in Collier Township that should be happening in Bridgeville, says Mayor Pat DeBlasio.
“Our community is either moving forward or it is moving backward,” DeBlasio said. “It’s not standing still. Change is happening whether we like it or not. Our zoning code has been improved, but there is more to be done.”
Earlier in the meeting, council voted unanimously to expand the planning commission from five members to seven members. But after reviewing the pool of residents interested in joining the commission, council opted to wait before making appointments.
“Some of these people we know very well,” said council president Michael Tolmer. “Some people we don’t know at all. Some of the people we don’t know at all had some very nice resumes and we’d like to learn more abut them.”
The planning commission makes recommendations to borough council about how Bridgeville should be zoned for development and which regulations are enforced in various zones.
At the same meeting, the planning commission’s newest member, Nino Petrocelli, Sr. shared his thoughts on the commission’s role moving forward.
Recently, the planning commission has been meeting on an as-needed basis, and hasn’t always seen all five of its members at each meeting. The attendance issue was a factor in council’s decision to expand the commission, although there is some disagreement about whether council should require a planning commission meeting each month.
So how do you think the planning commission should help improve Bridgeville?