[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6465708,"mediaKeyId","5867403-f672f8830f4858bfb1c9a9b0b19d563c","parentId",5867403,"title","State College council begins detailed review of draft zoning ordinance, sets fall schedule for public deliberations","audioSeconds",4280,"startMs",2952000,"endMs",7232000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5867403-f672f8830f4858bfb1c9a9b0b19d563c&start=2952&end=7232","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5867403-f672f8830f4858bfb1c9a9b0b19d563c/thumbnail_2952000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6465708/State-College-City/Centre-County/Pennsylvania/State-College-council-begins-detailed-review-of-draft-zoning-ordinance-sets-fall-schedule-for-public-deliberations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6465708-8ea94d7485ba60713af5880e22692063/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158191&Signature=JJADswZgmmgiLXSHfKI932k0rDP4dZJrdWWfrH9MdC0AWP22tpcbKUneMLzuEqDlFazFL8uDbMN0fuBg-tXvs2ku~j7MJhuleJetb7qJQBpb3QQgW6fD1zd6egodHIyHCJPf2jTb0w~9Fo3Qs5ICGkDGDieQX9YpXPaQao2qgOCkVGcbd0aGFCDJrMdlNFHQWR9B2kpJI~5vgL3GWNXlMfna3EeQvTRQ5vd~Fmptvyc4esAGdQyJo8aSt-BAcI3nyBrYbenMVHuEyVLhLpztM15b00IltJm7JdhAydFT6hTNNDFh7RjYDPr1fjL64sEfXvsSc3ptYtqOM6plTyE~kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State College City, PA","date","2025-09-08T00:00:00Z","article","State College Borough Council on Sept. 8, 2025 heard a detailed briefing from planning staff on a proposed comprehensive zoning ordinance intended to replace the borough's code, which dates to 1959. Planning Director Ed LeClair told the council the draft is designed \"to create more housing opportunities,\" support neighborhood commercial districts, and better align parking rules with current practice.

Why it matters: The draft would change fundamental rules that guide how and where housing, businesses and parking can be built across the borough's residential, transitional and downtown areas. Changes to lot-width rules, reintroduced housing types (duplexes, triplexes, cottage courts, accessory dwelling units) and a new approach to downtown heights and incentives could affect housing supply, walking and biking patterns, and future development approvals.

Planning staff summarized three core objectives for the rewrite: expand housing opportunities for both owners and renters (including options suitable for longer-term residents as well as students); support thriving, walkable commercial districts; and recalibrate parking requirements to reflect broader transportation choices. The presentation said the draft removes minimum lot-size rules in most residential zones, prioritizes lot width and would allow previously permitted housing types such as triplexes and quads.

The draft also introduces a consolidated use table, clearer measurement rules (how building height and setbacks are measured), new form and transparency standards for downtown facades, and an expanded incentive stack that would grant additional height in some districts in exchange for things such as underground parking, green-building standards or a mix of one- and two-bedroom units. Planning staff said minimum parking requirements in the draft are generally about half of current ordinance levels, and the draft increases bike parking requirements and expands alternatives such as shared parking, fee-in-lieu and off-site parking options.

On district detail, the presentation showed maps and renderings used to illustrate potential massing under different height scenarios. Planning Commission recommendations forwarded to council included reducing some proposed maximum heights in sensitive areas (for example, scaling some West End parcels from six stories down toward three) and aligning the West End and downtown boundaries to create clearer transitions to campus and adjacent neighborhoods.

Process and schedule: Council was given a multi-meeting schedule to complete its review: targeted work sessions in September and October, with Oct. 20 identified as the \"pencils down\" date for council direction to staff and the consultant. Staff said changes directed by council after Oct. 20 would be incorporated by the consultant, followed by the statutorily required 45-day county review and an anticipated public hearing and potential enactment actions in early 2026 if council proceeds on the aggressive timetable.

Public comment at the meeting reflected a range of local views. Community canvassing organizers told council they had collected widespread support for smaller minimum lots, more multiunit housing types and keeping students in denser downtown housing. Residents and business owners who spoke at the meeting urged council to approve measures that increase supply and keep housing options close to jobs and campus; others said densification must be balanced with neighborhood scale and services.

What's next: Council will take up residential-focused changes, including accessory dwelling units and minimum lot-width questions, at the next meeting and hold subsequent work sessions on downtown and transition zones later in the month. Staff requested that public comments referencing specific code text cite page or section numbers to help track suggested edits.

Ending: Council members repeatedly thanked planning staff and the Planning Commission for the months of work leading to the draft. The council's review will continue in additional scheduled work sessions; members and staff emphasized that adoption requires a multi-step statutory process including outside review and public hearings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","9/8/25 State College Borough Council","oneSentenceSummary","The State College Borough planning director previewed a comprehensive rewrite of the borough's zoning code that aims to increase housing options, modernize definitions, and reduce parking requirements. Council agreed to an intensive fall schedule of work sessions and public review before a planned county review and spring public hearing.","taxTitle","State College City, Centre County, Pennsylvania","taxId",12571,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6465700,"Votes at a glance: Consent agenda approved; Community Oversight Board ordinance amendments tabled",1731,1197000,2928000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5867403-f672f8830f4858bfb1c9a9b0b19d563c&start=1197&end=2928","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5867403-f672f8830f4858bfb1c9a9b0b19d563c/thumbnail_1197000.jpg","/articles/6465700/State-College-City/Centre-County/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-Consent-agenda-approved-Community-Oversight-Board-ordinance-amendments-tabled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6465700-b2762419b2f6bcd8a5ab42ebe06c9740/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158191&Signature=U2J5KhiI8ikvnk1vKJMSAaxvABDXyxOAvH7Kq6P~42zFOwTZRDR7xr33-ea5awOX6PCtDneFMXN1TqaMQmt5RZY-5jUKDyKW~adoC~NM42X0gkttsodHMlbch8NXQ2gyq60zc9GrNHl3eV2kHCzxgN5wkhSPWxy351VjlFMYSkYuKMVm3iOU5aOOGrStDMhuz5PeVarRL8dApmhW5iHhTUah3L1mIzTv8MBhuaVAnRsPoAclNh7aNM8KwiVRzY5U4Q13pULpZ29OEvZqet0I1BY0i4ZZzIGlvj0~rntLgLGmvi8-ubmgYgb1727iefYOAFJmL0g0rIwnxZLoxmj13w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Sept. 8, 2025 regular meeting the State College Borough Council recorded two formal outcomes: approval of the meeting consent agenda and the tabling of proposed amendments to the ordinance that established the Community Oversight Board (COB).

Consent items: Borough staff recommended and council approved the consent items included with the meeting agenda (the consent bundle began on page 9 of the agenda). A motion to approve the consent items was made and seconded; council voted verbally in favor and the consent items were adopted.

Community Oversight Board ordinance amendments: Staff presented proposed revisions recommended by the COB; council discussed definitions, training requirements, member count and auditing responsibilities. After debate a motion to table consideration of the COB ordinance amendments was made and seconded; council approved the motion to table and the item will be returned for additional drafting and implementation milestones.

Recorded actions

- Motion: Approve consent agenda
- Mover: not specified in transcript
- Second: not specified in transcript
- Vote: voice vote; outcome: approved
- Notes: Consent packet referenced page 9 of the agenda

- Motion: Table consideration of Community Oversight Board ordinance amendments
- Mover: Mister Herndon (made the motion to table)
- Second: not identified (second acknowledged in the record)
- Vote tally: recorded by show of hands during meeting; council counted four votes in favor of tabling (names not recorded in the roll call portion of the transcript)
- Outcome: tabled; item to return to council after COB/staff revisions

Ending: Council asked COB and staff to return with clarified ordinance language and proposed training/orientation milestones before taking a final vote.","At its Sept. 8, 2025 meeting the State College Borough Council approved routine consent items and tabled an ordinance amendment package for the Community Oversight Board after extended debate.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6465703,"State College council tables vote on proposed Community Oversight Board ordinance amendments after debate on training and investigative powers",724,1164000,1888000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5867403-f672f8830f4858bfb1c9a9b0b19d563c&start=1164&end=1888","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5867403-f672f8830f4858bfb1c9a9b0b19d563c/thumbnail_1164000.jpg","/articles/6465703/State-College-City/Centre-County/Pennsylvania/State-College-council-tables-vote-on-proposed-Community-Oversight-Board-ordinance-amendments-after-debate-on-training-and-investigative-powers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6465703-65c3219b0904875e44533d53aaf2e362/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158191&Signature=nNbnZ3~rLojnr~IRlc3gBhD11oLTer0wnadJUq7Raa80sfpLL2pmFDDMpEC9K8k1tkMy~jdyrgRP74OPkHKr5Kbnhy7HMKBqIkLqPgq4OAleFHXpGE7IL5Ky9PXRy5i7VbQsbVyGLWmk16P2wMqQL1kjlGjIrE-hjJ0Ylxl--F3KkiPsVF~4yXLBMi8XPcAOZzN7HNoYjp1zhDU05gJMdON9yBBRhWZF2WfBEQgpuEr9DepAOsHOkhhCANNDR5LkfD6KUMEsFEPdhJcdmeSwDsND2eOHEdi2Mxswp3kwQg80HDXfqBZPzL4Qvjk2tpfFzoGnsSmTSvuXp~Iqj4UmIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State College Borough Council on Sept. 8, 2025 reviewed recommended amendments to the ordinance that established the borough's Community Oversight Board (COB). Ron Madrid, the COB chair, presented a set of clarifying changes drafted by the board and recommended they be adopted by council.

Why it matters: The ordinance governs how citizen oversight of the State College Police Department is structured and what procedures volunteers and staff must follow. Proposed changes would change definitions, member counts, training and orientation requirements, and the board's role in auditing and investigating complaints.

Summary of COB recommendations: Madrid said the review had begun in August 2023 and resulted in multiple proposed clarifications. Key recommendations included removing or tightening undefined terms such as \"misconduct\" and \"investigate\" (Madrid noted the ordinance currently ties \"misconduct\" to the State College Police Department policy manual and that COB members are not trained investigators), moving auditing and some training/orientation requirements out of the ordinance into the COB's operating procedures, and reducing board membership from nine to seven members. Madrid also urged that a newly appointed COB member be allowed to participate while completing orientation rather than withholding participation until formal orientation completion. In his summary Madrid told council, \"We believe the changes we are recommending will bring clarity and efficiency to the activities of the COB and should be incorporated into the ordinance.\" (Ron Madrid)

Council debate and concerns: Council members broadly thanked Madrid for the work but raised substantive concerns. Several members said they supported clarifying the ordinance to match what the board can practically do, while others worried removing training mandates from the ordinance could leave new members insufficiently prepared or expose the borough to inconsistent training standards. Councilmember Gopal Balachandran expressed that the ordinance's training section was intended to ensure a \"holistic background\" for members and said he remained concerned that moving those requirements entirely to operating procedures could eliminate teeth in the standard. Other council members asked for more explicit timelines or milestones for orientation and training (one suggested a 30-day milestone), and sought assurances that topics such as Fourth Amendment law, use-of-force standards and cultural competency would be included in operating procedures even if not in ordinance text.

Outcome: After extended discussion, a motion to table consideration of the COB ordinance amendments was made and after a subsequent second the motion was approved by council; the agenda item was tabled for later consideration. Staff and COB representatives indicated they will return with clarifications and implementation details for council review.

Ending: Council members and staff agreed the draft addressed many ambiguities in the existing ordinance but that additional work remained to ensure training, orientation timelines and the scope of board duties are clear and enforceable. Council asked that the COB and staff supply more concrete milestones and proposed language so council can consider final ordinance language at a future meeting.","Council heard a presentation from Community Oversight Board chair Ron Madrid about proposed amendments to the ordinance that created the COB. Members debated definitions and training requirements and ultimately voted to table consideration of the draft amendments.","actionData","errors"]

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State College council begins detailed review of draft zoning ordinance, sets fall schedule for public deliberations

Votes at a glance: Consent agenda approved; Community Oversight Board ordinance amendments tabled

State College council tables vote on proposed Community Oversight Board ordinance amendments after debate on training and investigative powers