Board adopts SALDO electronic plan rule and new commercial parking standard; approves stop sign advertising and grant support

During its Dec. 7 meeting the Bern Township Board of Supervisors approved several ordinance and regulatory changes described during a public hearing and subsequent motions.

Attorney Keith Mooney summarized two advertised ordinances during the public hearing: amendments to the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) to reduce paper submissions and require an electronic copy of plans, and changes to the Zoning Ordinance to add definitions for "truck terminals" and "warehouse units" and to change parking requirements for industrial/wholesaling/warehousing uses from two parking spaces per 1,000 square feet to 1.85 spaces per 1,000 square feet.

Following the hearing the board adopted the SALDO submission requirements ordinance and the commercial parking requirements ordinance (the parking change passed 4'1, with Supervisor Daniel Tobias voting no). The board also voted to advertise a Commercial/Industrial Minimum Driveway Width Ordinance (vote 4'1) and to advertise a stop sign ordinance for Mull Avenue at Kercher Avenue (approved unanimously).

Manager Brian Potts explained a resolution required by the grantor of the Penn State Health Catheterization Lab Capital Program Grant; the board approved a resolution supporting the grant application.

What happens next: The SALDO and zoning changes will be recorded and implemented per township procedures; the driveway-width ordinance will be advertised for public review and the stop sign ordinance will be advertised prior to final action.