Residents ask Scranton City Council to pause Geisinger zoning amendment, seek community benefits agreement

Scranton — Residents and community groups pressed the City Council on Tuesday over a mayor‑backed zoning amendment related to Geisinger Health System, urging negotiations and greater transparency before any ordinance is adopted.

Patricia Spoletta, speaking for Park Area neighbors, read from a letter asking the council and Geisinger representatives to negotiate a community benefits agreement (CBA) to address height, setbacks, screening, lighting and noise so the hospital’s proposed development would not “destroy the fabric of the adjacent residential community.” She invited Geisinger to meet with neighbors on Dec. 1 and asked that plans intended for the council caucus on Dec. 2 be shared in advance.

“Such an agreement will address all of these issues to our mutual satisfaction,” Spoletta said, urging a good‑faith meeting between residents and GCMC (Geisinger Community Medical Center) representatives.

Other residents echoed warnings about process and notice. Mike Mancini said he believed the planning commission approved a GCMC project without proper public notice and recommended an appeal; he also proposed removing a parking garage from the plan and relocating parking to employee lots. Several council members and speakers raised questions about the planning commission’s Nov. 19 meeting, including whether Geisinger plans were presented there, who placed the item on the agenda and why the meeting was moved to the Governor’s Room and not recorded or posted on ECTV.

Council members said planning‑commission minutes were not yet available but that administration staff would follow up to obtain them. The clerk later confirmed the zoning amendment (council file 1042025) was being held to allow council to meet with Geisinger on Dec. 2 and to permit a public hearing on Dec. 9 at 5:45 p.m.

Councilor comments during the meeting underscored process concerns. One council member asked the solicitor to research whether a CBA would require an ordinance and whether existing zoning procedures would allow the compromise residents described.

The council did not vote on the zoning amendment Tuesday; instead it left the item tabled ahead of the scheduled Dec. 2 meeting with Geisinger and the Dec. 9 public hearing.

What’s next: Council and Geisinger are scheduled to meet on Dec. 2, and a public hearing on the proposed zoning amendment is set for Dec. 9 at 5:45 p.m.