Zoning update moves forward

BY STACI WILSON

Montrose council members plan to take one more look at its proposed, updated zoning ordinance before moving forward towards adopting it.

At the Monday, Sept. 17 council meeting, it was noted that the Susquehanna County Planning Commission had already reviewed the proposed ordinance and had suggested a few minor changes.

Those changes, said Councilman Sean Granahan, have been made.

Some of the ordinance committee members will meet with Carson Helfrich, the consultant hired by the borough to work on the zoning update, to go over the revisions.

Council voted to advertise to hold a public hearing at the regular borough meeting scheduled for Oct. 15 at7:30 p.m.The proposed ordinance will be available for review prior to the public hearing.

Councilman Craig Reimel reported that the engineer and contractor hired to replace the roof on the borough garage were ready to move forward.

Reimel noted that there were some clarifications and substitutions suggested by the engineer and contractor after they conducted a walk-through of the project but that those kept with the spirit, scope and budget of council intended.

Council also discussed a drainage issue caused by a smashed box culvert off ofSouth Main St., on the east side of the sidewalk just south of the red light.

Members agreed to reach out to Leeward Construction, the company working on the Route 706 expansion project, to see if they would consider working with the borough to fix the problem.

Approval was granted to United Fire Company to hold its annual Parade of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 1.

Council also granted approval for the use of the south municipal parking lot to be used during the 2012 Christmas Festival, also slated for Dec. 1.

Although still in the planning stages, the parking lot will tentatively be used during the festival as the site to host children’s games, a small campfire for roasting marshmallows, distribution of hot cocoa; a snowman building contest and as the main pick-up and drop-off point for sleigh- or wagon-rides.