Meeting Notes October 13th, 2025
Agenda
Roll Call – Joe, Sean, Sid, Andrea, Stephen Excused
Minutes – August Meeting Notes approved.
Planning Commission Seats – Open seats (1) to be continued to be advertised, no interest to date.
Borough Comprehensive Planning
Historic Committee had second meeting; meetings will be 2nd or 3rd (
Planning for Joint working session on December 15th for tracking of Comp Plan action items in matrix. We will plan to discuss in Nov PC meeting.
Grants Research – Rutledge Resiliency Hub
No updates.
Rutledge Participation in the CPRG (Climate Pollution Reduction Grants) Program
No updates.
Borough Hall Plan
No substantive updates; Borough Hall roof replacement bidding process ongoing, in coordination with borough solicitor and contract value thresholds.
Crozer-Chester Medical Center Closure
The working group for the multi-municipal authority is meeting regularly and their goal is to have some direction by this December. By way of update, Prospect has received go ahead that if buyers are not found within a certain timeframe, they are cleared to abandon the buildings. After a period, these may to go to the state.
Question: what qualifies a hospital as Trauma 1?
A: Size of the emergency, 24 hr support for all experts.
This to be closed as a Planning Commission item for now.
Triangle Park
Triangle Park construction – phase due to be completed ahead of tree planting on November 15th, 2025. Next phase, focused on stormwater management, must be completed by September 2026 as the funding will be rescinded if not completed by that date.
Need and opportunity to shape how the park managed and prioritized, which may have a role for the Planning Commission and community engagement.
Role and Scope of Planning Commission
For November’s PC meeting, how will PC prepare for conversation with Council in December?
1. Identify Needs
· Priorities
· What are the needs we are aware of today, and are they within our Comp Plan?
· Consideration for capacity and interest from borough residents.
2. Radar Process
· Through Similar to the medical services issues, how can Planning Commission anticipate better the functions we need to focus?
· How do we assign risk?
· Need to consider both sides—perhaps more SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats)
3. Process for Follow
· How do connect with council representatives to ensure they are following through on things such as LCAP and Comp Plan?
Potential to use this as a publicity to gain further participation with in Planning commission as residents may feel passionate.
Action Item:
· All – Prepare for joint session in December for PC Meeting in November
o Focus areas – Where should PC and council focus on 2026? What 3-4 things should be carried into 2026 and owned meaningfully by PC?
o What are the dimensions we are thinking of focusing in?
o What areas in the Comp Plans or LCAP are points for Council to focus in 2026?
· Joe – Focus into framework for Planning Commissions
New Business
Public Comment – Environmental Advisory Council: Gamal Sherif, Resident on Rutledge Ave, joined session to share thanks for PC service to community. Darby Creek Resilience plan. Borough of Rutledge may be benefited by supporting that initiative with the idea that improved watersheds improve property values, mitigate flooding, etc. EAC – Environmental Advisory Council—separate from Council and from Planning, but with function of providing recommendation based on initiatives such as Darby Creek Resilience plan.
Q: How do we see this aligning with other plans such as our ___ reduction plan? & Are there are other boroughs we know participating in the resiliency plan?
A: Municipalities are often represented by EACs. We would also get information and guidance (Cheat sheet) on inter-municipality options and ordinances to help steer rain water to better place.
Q: Are there other residents who have shown interest in this initiative?
A: There are some and there may be opportunities to host meetings in Rutledge.
Commentary:
· Would be interesting to understand the residential interest and see if someone is willing to initiate this, similarly to how the historic committee was prompted.
· There are several partial overlaps with both LCAP and Comp Plan – Environmental committee and joint resource committee as examples
· Having a representative from initiatives, such as Vision Zero’s visit to council, are very effective in explaining the initiative, goals, and how municipalities can and are expected to participate. Need to understand what are the asks—is it something quickly achievable from PC or from council? Or is it a longer commitment?
· With proper interest and show of support, it would be possible to begin the process before council and then, once there is potential and movement, we move to creating proper organization.
· What potentials are there for overlapping efforts? Would RSTC be better as a function of an EAC? Would that be too much of a shift?
Action Items:
· Sean — Follow up with resident regarding Darby Creek Watershed Resilience, Conservation and Management Plan — Sean
· Sid — Follow up to understand more of ownerships of EAC and structure.
Adjourn at 9:01PM