Wyomissing Borough Council has voted to adopt revisions to its zoning ordinance modifying the C2 Overlay District, setting the rules for redevelopment of aging commercial properties including the Berkshire Mall area, according to a borough release dated November 11.
The vote, taken at council's November 10 meeting, establishes a framework for future investment rather than approving any specific project. The borough says the district provides strategic flexibility for potential redevelopment while preserving and improving the character and quality of life residents value, and that the standards cover site design, open space, landscaping, buffering, circulation, pedestrian and bicycle access, infrastructure improvements and redevelopment planning requirements.
“The Berkshire Mall property presents a significant long-term opportunity for reinvestment in our community,” Borough Council President Kristen Gajewski said in the release. She said officials took a proactive approach by modernising development standards rather than waiting for a specific proposal, and that the new regulations prioritise a harmonious relationship between the borough's commercial and residential districts.
According to the borough, the adoption follows a planning effort that included ordinance development, zoning analysis, Planning Commission review, county planning feedback, public presentations and opportunities for community input. The borough says it is exploring options to attract developers to the land, and that any future proposal would still go through its established review process, including public meetings, development reviews and further public input.
Summarised by the Berks Journal from Wyomissing Borough's reporting.
Source: Wyomissing Borough