Palmyra Borough bans amusement arcades in central business district

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

Palmyra Borough Council unanimously approved an ordinance amendment during its July 14 meeting that will ban amusement arcades in the central business district.

The central business district runs along U.S. Route 422/Main Street from Mark Street to Lincoln Street and along Railroad Street from Cypress Street to Broad Streets.

The amendment revised the definition of an amusement arcade to “a commercial establishment which provides as a principal use amusement devices and/or games of skill or chance.” This includes pinball machines, video games, skee ball, electronic or water firing ranges, skill games, and other similar devices.

“This definition does not include the use of three or fewer such devices as an accessory use,” the meeting agenda stated.

The borough’s planning commission recommended that council approve the amendment at its June 24 commission meeting. The ordinance was sent to the Lebanon County Planning Department, and the borough received no objections or comments.

Previous ordinances allowed arcades throughout the borough, assuming the businesses met certain requirements.

No one from the community spoke on the matter during a public hearing before the vote. No council members publicly shared any statements before the vote, either.

In other business, council approved road closures for the borough’s holiday parade on Nov. 14. Western Lebanon County Regional Police Chief Andrew Winters said he’ll start closing the roads at 8:30 a.m., and they will remain closed until around 12:30 p.m.

The parade will begin at the intersection of West Cherry and South Mark streets, continue in front of the Palmyra Area Middle School on West Cherry Street, east on East Cherry Street, north on South Green Street, west on East Main Street, south on South Locust Street, and disband at the Palmyra Area Middle School.

This meeting was covered remotely by LebTown using a livestream posted to the borough’s YouTube page.

Palmyra Borough Council will meet next at 325 S. Railroad St. on July 28 at 7 p.m. Meetings are also streamed on the Palmyra Borough, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania YouTube page.