Columbia Borough Meetings – Week of October 14, 2019
Author: SPY
In Pennsylvania, 'opportunity zones' struggle to live up to their intentions
The central premise of the program is simple: Offer wealthy investors generous tax breaks for putting money into real estate or businesses in distressed areas. Those areas were designated “opportunity zones.”
In Pennsylvania, however, early signs suggest the program is not living up to the claims of transformative change and is unlikely to be a cure for the communities most in need of a boost. Instead, investors appear to mostly prefer areas already experiencing redevelopment, where the payday will be far greater.
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About Town 10/13/19
This week’s photos of Columbia
New set of wheels
Council candidates –
Vote for change!
Scarf bombing at 4th & Locust
There they are along Locust.
And there they are on 4th.
Kristen’s Katering at 301 Cherry Street
Scarecrow people on Cherry Street
A “sign” of Halloween
A window of Columbia
And another
Back at Zion Hill Cemetery
Wooden crosses mark many of the graves.
Is the site falling into disrepair?
Lots of places to go to
Still not right
Take a good look. You’re paying for it.
Night lights
The temporary roundabout at 12th Street & Central Avenue –
Is it a good idea?
(And there are no crossing lines at the intersection.)
The roundabout is sometimes called a traffic circle.
A tire in the shape of a flower – for holding flowers?
Speaking of tires – something new has been added at the clock plaza at 5th & Chestnut.
Here’s what one of the bridge plaques says.
Old truck rusting away along 462
Tis the season
A posting for a private business in the state rep’s office window?
May other businesses post there also? CVS? The Medicine Shoppe?
Venting or condensing?
A delivery at the new Floyd Landis facility on Bridge Street?
More roadwork
Dunging out at the chip factory
Don’t mess with the water company.
Time for a new blind
Prospective hotel investors?
There are several of these on the 300 block of Locust.
Bicycle waiting for a rider
Base of a light standard that originally stood at the entrance to the Veterans Memorial Bridge in 1930.
(It’s now at the Historic Society.)
Lawn gnomes
Baby on board
No crossing lines at North 4th & Maple
Since there are no sidewalks on this section of North 5th, you might be risking your life if you walk north towards the Visitors Center.
Mini-lighthouse
Creepy clown
Discover Lancaster had a balloon brought to town last Thursday.
Fire in the hole!
[Submitted photo]
Work has picked up again at 4th & Locust.
New tree . . .
About to be planted at Columbia River Park
That’s an awful long time.
(4th & Locust)
Gettin’ down!
Rivertowne Trolley during Saturday’s Albatwitch Festival
What’s the proper protocol when you’re walking on a sidewalk that abruptly ends but continues a little ways up ahead? Do you continue walking – technically through someone’s yard – or do you cut out into the street and then back onto the sidewalk?
Here at North 7th & Maple, the curb is recessed to accommodate an ADA ramp – but there’s no sidewalk.
Vultures practicing their Halloween poses
Here’s a loner on top of Manor Street School.
Haunted lawn
The lions of South 2nd are ready for Halloween.
Career Link at the Library – Tuesday, October 15
Zoning Hearing Board to consider request by Cimarron Investments for former chip factory
12 North 2nd Street
Legal Notice
“The Zoning Hearing Board of the Borough of Columbia will meet on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at 7:00 PM, in the Municipal Building at 308 Locust Street, Columbia PA, to consider the following application(s) and/or appeal(s):
Cimarron Investments LLC is requesting special exception(s) and/or variance(s) to construct a hotel and parking at 12 N Second Street in the Downtown Commercial (DC) zoned district and hotel off-site parking at the properties located at 20 N Second Street, 28 N Second Street, 30 N Second Street and 156 Walnut Street in the High Density Residential (HDR) zoned district.
IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WISHING TO ATTEND THIS MEETING AND REQUIRE AN ACCOMMODATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING PLEASE CONTACT THE COLUMBIA BOROUGH OFFICE AT 684-2467 TO DISCUSS HOW THE BOROUGH MAY ACCOMMODATE YOUR NEEDS JEFFREY HELM ZONING OFFICER”
Publish Date 10/15/19 and 10/22/19
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Columbia Borough Budget Proposal for 2020
Download HERE.
ImageFIRST helps clean up Columbia for 2019 Giving Day
Today was “Community Giving Day” in Columbia as about 50 volunteers from ImageFIRST fanned out to various areas of the borough to help with leaf pickup, tree trimming, painting, and sidewalk repairs. ImageFIRST is a healthcare linen and laundry company with about 1,800 members nationwide. The local group carrying out today’s project is stationed in West Hempfield under the supervision of Chief Operating Officer Joe Geraghty. The company participates in the annual project on the second Friday of October. Last year, members painted all the bleachers at Glatfelter Memorial Field, among other activities.
Glatfelter Foundation Board member Robin Gamby was the point person in helping bring the project to town this year, and Columbia’s Jack Gamby and Bill Kloidt oversaw the volunteers at Glatfelter Field, Janson Park, and Locust Street Park. Kloidt said the tree trimming and leaf cleanup helps maintain Columbia’s status as a Tree City USA.
Volunteers also assisted borough workers in painting curbs at storm sewer inlets. Columbia Highway Department Manager Jake Graham said upkeep of the inlets helps Columbia with MS4 credits. (MS4 relates to conveyances that collect stormwater.)
‘Guard your windows, lock your doors’: A warning from Columbia Borough Police
Police in Lancaster County issue a warning for residents: ‘Guard your windows. Lock your doors’.
That’s because officers with Columbia Borough Police Department are investigating several vehicle break-ins and attempted break-ins as well as an attempted break-in at a home.
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Plarn at the Library – Thursday at 1 p.m.
"Voices of Tomorrow" to be held especially for students to voice their concerns.
Columbia Borough students are invited to let their concerns be heard at “Voices of Tomorrow,” a forum to be held Wednesday, October 16, at 291 South 4th Street. (Parents are also invited.)
Columbia Spy 