Katie Whiteside, the borough’s long‑range planner, and Mayor Hopkins presented an ordinance on June 17 that would define “organized trail facility” and allow trailhead facilities in more zoning districts while retaining conditional‑use review in rural residential areas.

Whiteside said the change is administrative: it would not build any trails but would create a clear permitting path for trailheads — places that typically include parking, kiosks, bollards and similar user facilities — and would avoid an onerous rezoning process now required in many districts. Under current code, an organized trail facility was permitted in the borough’s General Use zone and only allowed as a conditional use in the Outdoor Recreation zone; the proposed language adds a definition and permits the use in additional zones as either a zoning permit (where appropriate) or a conditional use (in low‑density residential zones).

Whiteside emphasized the ordinance expressly excludes informal trail access points located in rights‑of‑way or access easements; it is focused on established trailheads with parking and facilities. In areas where the amendment would keep trailheads subject to conditional use review, the planning commission could impose conditions such as hours of operation, seasonal closures, parking and trash removal plans, ADA accessibility and other site‑specific mitigations to reduce impacts on nearby residents.

Staff said the change implements goals from the borough’s 2023 Comprehensive Recreational Trails Plan that call for better‐managed trailheads, improved accessibility and safer, addressable locations for emergency responders. The Trails Advisory Commission and the Planning Commission both recommended adoption unanimously. During questions, assembly members raised practical issues — road service concerns about wear on roads, the need to coordinate with road service area commissioners and utilities, and the likely applicants (state agencies and nonprofits rather than private landowners). Staff estimated a conditional‑use timeline of roughly six to eight weeks and fees in the several‑hundred‑dollar range for typical applications.

Mayor Hopkins and staff said the conditional use process gives neighbors and local road service entities a forum to shape design and mitigation measures while the zoning change is intended to reduce the time and cost barriers for organizations that want to develop a safe, maintained trailhead.