about the project

The Borough of State College is conducting a major update to its Zoning Ordinance. The current ordinance is now out-of-date, and needs to be comprehensively updated in order to better implement the Borough's planning documents. The update will also ensure the Borough's Zoning Ordinance is internally consistent, modernized, aligned with contemporary zoning best practices, and more user-friendly.

project timeline

The Zoning Ordinance update is a significant undertaking, and is expected to take 24-30 months to complete. The project is divided into five tasks, as follows:

1

Task 1: COMPLETE
Project Initiation & Public Participation

This includes background analysis of current policies and regulations, and public outreach to identify the key goals for the project and receive input on the strengths and weaknesses of the current regulations.

2

Task 2: COMPLETE
Zoning Ordinance Assessment

In this task the information and input obtained in Task 1 is synthesized in a Zoning Ordinance Assessment that identifies the major goals for the update project, along with recommendations on how to address and integrate these goals in the updated ordinance. The Zoning Ordinance Assessment concludes with a detailed outline of how the updated regulations would be structured if the recommendations in the Assessment are implemented. Public meetings will be conducted on the Zoning Ordinance Assessment to receive public input from the community and direction from elected officials.

3

Task 3: In Progress
Draft Zoning Ordinance

Task 3 includes the draft of the new regulations. Because the Zoning Ordinance is a lengthy document, drafting is divided into two installments. The revisions will be consistent with recommendations in the Zoning Ordinance Assessment and follow the detailed outline. Public meetings will be held on the drafts to receive public input.

4

Task 4:
Test Draft Zoning Ordinance

Next, the updated Zoning Ordinance will be tested to verify whether it is achieving the goals for the project. The testing stage includes a side-by-side comparison of four examples of recently-approved development with comparable hypothetical development in accordance with the draft Zoning Ordinance.

5

Task 5:
Prepare Public Hearing Draft of Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map

After the results from testing in Task 4 and input on the draft Zoning Ordinance in Task 3, revisions will be made and a public hearing draft of the Zoning Ordinance will be prepared. These materials will be reviewed during the public hearing process. The public hearing draft of the Zoning Ordinance is the final, comprehensive set of draft regulations that will be considered for adoption.

Borough of State College | Planning Department | 243 South Allen Street, State College, PA 16801

phone: (814) 234-7109 | email: zonestatecollege@statecollegepa.us

Managed by:

about the project

The Borough of State College is conducting a major update to its Zoning Ordinance. The current ordinance is now out-of-date, and needs to be comprehensively updated in order to better implement the Borough's planning documents. The update will also ensure the Borough's Zoning Ordinance is internally consistent, modernized, aligned with contemporary zoning best practices, and more user-friendly.

project timeline

The Zoning Ordinance update is a significant undertaking, and is expected to take 24-30 months to complete. The project is divided into five tasks, as follows.

Task 1: COMPLETED
Project Initiation & Public Participation

This includes background analysis of current policies and regulations, and public outreach to identify the key goals for the project and receive input on the strengths and weaknesses of the current regulations.

Task 2: COMPLETED
Zoning Ordinance Assessment

In this task the information and input obtained in Task 1 is synthesized in a Zoning Ordinance Assessment that identifies the major goals for the update project, along with recommendations on how to address and integrate these goals in the updated ordinance. The Zoning Ordinance Assessment concludes with a detailed outline of how the updated regulations would be structured if the recommendations in the Assessment are implemented. Public meetings will be conducted on the Zoning Ordinance Assessment to receive public input from the community and direction from elected officials.

Task 3: In Progress
Draft Zoning Ordinance

Task 3 includes the draft of the new regulations. Because the Zoning Ordinance is a lengthy document, drafting is divided into two installments. The revisions will be consistent with recommendations in the Zoning Ordinance Assessment and follow the detailed outline. Public meetings will be held on the drafts to receive public input.

Task 4:
Test Draft Zoning Ordinance

Next, the updated Zoning Ordinance will be tested to verify whether it is achieving the goals for the project. The testing stage includes a side-by-side comparison of four examples of recently-approved development with comparable hypothetical development in accordance with the draft Zoning Ordinance.

Task 5:
Prepare Public Hearing Draft of Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map

After the results from testing in Task 4 and input on the draft Zoning Ordinance in Task 3, revisions will be made and a public hearing draft of the Zoning Ordinance will be prepared. These materials will be reviewed during the public hearing process. The public hearing draft of the Zoning Ordinance is the final, comprehensive set of draft regulations that will be considered for adoption.