Cornwall Borough advances zoning amendment for non-considered uses

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Cornwall Borough Council unanimously agreed to advertise a zoning amendment governing uses not already accounted for by borough code at its monthly meeting Monday.

The amendment, recommended for passage by the planning and zoning commission, sets uses that are not already specifically legislated as conditional uses allowable in specific zoning districts depending on the use.

Read More: Cornwall planning board advances zoning amendment for non-considered uses

Conditional uses are guaranteed by right, but require a developer to meet certain standards and obtain approval by council. One requirement specifically detailed is a buffer area, as well as whether the use meets the “lot, area, dimensional, and design criteria of the district in which it will be located.”

Right now, types of development that could fall under this ordinance include data centers and solar farms, though the P&Z is working on establishing regulations for these uses.

The ordinance is intended partially as a safeguard against unexpected developments being placed in zones that the borough might find unsuitable, as developers pursuing uses not in the zoning ordinance could otherwise push for the use in any district.

As the draft was already sent to county planning last month, council moved to put the item on its January meeting’s agenda.

In end-of-year business, council:

• Agreed to adopt the drafted 2026 budget, with Thomas Burton opposed. The borough has not finalized some salary plans (though funding is allotted), with water/sewer executive director Barbara Henry set to retire and plans up in the air for who will fill her role.
• Unanimously passed an ordinance revising water and sewer rates (5% and 3.7% increases, respectively) and tapping fees (increases to $6,200 for water and $6,000 for sewer).
• Unanimously approved 2026 meeting dates.
• Unanimously approved five-year intermunicipal agreements with West Cornwall and Mount Gretna to offer police services.
• Unanimously set millage rates for 2026, with the borough maintaining a rate of 2.25 mills.

Read More: Cornwall Borough advances proposed 2026 budget with no tax increase

Council president Bruce Harris thanked councilwoman Beth Yocum, who did not seek reelection and will leave office in January. Yocum, who plans to stay on the recreation board, has been on council for 12 years.

In January, new council members Eric Tobias and John Lux will take office, as well as Bowman (who was originally appointed to fill the seat short-term).

Harris also thanked outgoing Mayor Mark Thomas, who also did not seek reelection. Thomas will be succeeded by Republican Howard MacFadden, currently a refuse authority representative.

Read More: Republicans win Cornwall council races

Council also held lengthy discussion regarding Cobalt Alley, with Cornwall Properties offering to donate land along the alley to legally widen the road.

The legal width of the alley is small enough that residents worry that, should property owners across the street fence the edge of their properties, they will no longer be able to park or travel the alley. Cornwall Properties has offered to donate a portion of subdivided lots to the borough to widen the alley prior to their sale, though the developer is on a tight timeline. The alley would be widened by from 2 to 10 feet depending where along its length.

Solicitor Josele Cleary said that neither the alley nor any of Iron Valley Drive are borough property. However, Mike Swank of Cornwall Properties showed that the developer’s property begins 700 feet after the start of the road and suggested that the first 700 feet could be a public road.

Though ordinance 152 lists Bethlehem Steel roads offered to the borough, Cleary said this list includes both Cobalt Alley and Iron Valley Drive — a private road — as well as other roadways that are not borough property. She said that if a borough does not maintain dedicated roads, it cedes ownership of those roads.

However, she said that if a borough has maintained or used a road for 21 years or more, it effectively takes adverse possession of the road.

Stating that Cornwall has undergone maintenance along this portion of Iron Valley Drive, councilman John Karinch made a motion to direct Cleary to draft an ordinance establishing Iron Valley Drive as the borough’s street up to Cornwall Property’s property line, with a 25 mph limit and a stop sign at the intersection. This motion was unanimously accepted.

Once the portion of the road is accepted, the borough hopes to be able to accept land for Cobalt Alley, which comes off of Iron Valley Drive.

Karinch estimated fees associated with the alley widening at around $40,000 to be paid for with recreation credits.

Councilwoman Julie Bowman said she is in favor of accepting the motion, but said she felt the issue is the result of an oversight by the P&Z while approving subdivision plans.

“I’ll remind you that we ended up here because planning and zoning approved this plan without doing due diligence on any of this. It was a miss,” said Bowman before recommending Cleary draft an ordinance.

In other news, council:

• Heard that Cornwall’s first tree-lighting ceremony and Old English Shire horse-led-wagon rides will be held Saturday by Cornwall Elementary School. Tickets to wagon rides will be sold Friday (and Saturday if any seats remain), with rides starting at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. The tree-lighting ceremony starts at 5 p.m.
• Heard that the system to broadcast meetings has been installed but the township manager needs to be trained on its usage. The borough hopes to begin streaming meetings in January.
• Heard there are three candidates to P&Z’s vacancy (with a member looking to retire but not having formally resigned) and discussed interviewing them in January.
• Tabled action on the dedication of Forge Drive, as neighbors have complained certain issues have not been resolved in the development. The borough plans to look into the topic further.
• Heard a report from Brianna Laliberte of Lebanon DES.
• Unanimously agreed to authorize the release of $378,360.84 for Cornwall Associates on Ironmaster Road.
• Unanimously agreed to adopt an internal policy to notify residents prior to blasting reported to the borough.
• Heard a resident’s concerns about cars parking by his driveway, making it difficult for him (or potential emergency response vehicles) to reach his home. The resident was advised to call the police if anyone parks in front of his driveway.
• Authorized a resident to pave part of Oak Street, a private road, at his own expense.
• Unanimously approved minutes and reports.

Cornwall Borough Council meets the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.