Norristown meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Norristown agendas take up 2027 budget, $371,080 facade project and R-2 zoning rewrite

Norristown Municipal Council's Oct. 6 agenda listed a presentation of the Municipal Administrator's proposed 2027 operating budget, a resolution setting the 2027 minimum municipal obligation for the police, fire, labor and non-uniform pension plans, and seven construction agreements for the Historic Facade Improvements Project totaling $371,080. The same agenda listed a $20,000 contract with Municipal Solutions to search for a Municipal Administrator and a request to authorize submission of the town's City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) application.

Agendas were available for the four meetings summarized here, but minutes had not been published as of Oct. 19. The record therefore does not show what was voted on, tabled or approved at any of them. Everything below is what was scheduled for review or consideration.

Council: budget, pensions and facade work

The Oct. 6 council agenda listed Resolution No. 26-90, approving the fiscal year 2027 minimum municipal obligation for the police, fire, labor and non-uniform pension plans. The minimum municipal obligation is the amount a municipality must contribute to keep its pension plans funded under state law.

Also listed was Resolution 26-83, awarding seven construction agreements for the Historic Facade Improvements Project to four contractors, for a total of $371,080. The facade program covers exterior improvements to historic buildings.

The budget presentation was listed for public review; the agenda does not state a tax rate or a total spending figure.

Planning Commission: townhouses and multiplexes in R-2

The Planning Commission's Oct. 13 agenda carried two related entries on a proposed zoning text amendment for the R-2 Residential District. Proposal 26-09 would add townhouses and multiplex dwellings as permitted housing types there. Related items listed changes to dimensional criteria, including lot-area averaging and yard requirements, and revisions to standards for front yards, minimum lot area, lot width and building coverage.

The agenda also listed off-street parking reductions for garage parking in R-2 districts with recorded deed restrictions, and a proposal to waive visitor and overflow parking requirements for townhouse subdivisions with more than 16 units.

Two property reviews were listed for the same meeting: a land development plan for four new units at 1400-1408 Powell Street, and a conditional use application for an outdoor dining patio at 1820 Markley Street.

Design Review Board: three projects

The Design Review Board's Oct. 14 agenda listed preliminary and final land development reviews for three projects: four single-family semi-attached twin dwellings at 1400-1408 Powell Street; a 13,280-square-foot commercial building for Phase B of the Norristown Shopping center at 1820 Powell Street; and a 2,400-square-foot house of worship with a covered porch at 336-338 E Airy Street.

Coming up

Oct. 20 — Municipal Council. The agenda lists the proposed 2027-2031 Capital Improvements Plan and the 2027 Consolidated Fee Schedule, a liquor license transfer application for Tuscany 72 Pizza Bar LLC at 1719 Markley Street, and proposed Ordinance 26-06 for 36 row homes at 722 Sandy Street. Also listed: authorization for $1.5 million in PennDOT funding for the Arch Street Greenway project, and payment of $39,200.00 to Baldassari Landscaping Mowing Services for 2026.

Oct. 27 — Zoning Hearing Board. Public hearings are scheduled on 17 variance and special exception requests, including a house of worship at 740 Sandy St., a hair braiding salon at 316 Barbadoes St., a daycare at 536 George St., a digital freestanding sign at 113 E. Airy St., and dimensional variances at 240 W. Johnson Hwy covering building height and lot area.

Norristown reviews large mixed-use project, data center zoning; no final decisions published

Norristown officials this week reviewed a proposed 682-unit mixed-use development at the former state hospital site and a zoning change that would allow data centers in the Heavy Industrial District, but no final decisions have been published. The Municipal Council also considered a small historic facade project.

Preserve at Stony Creek

The Planning Commission on Aug. 11 and the Design Review Board on Aug. 12 both reviewed preliminary land development plans for The Preserve at Stony Creek, a mixed-use redevelopment at 1001 Sterigere Street. Applicant Pinnacle Realty Development Company proposes 424 townhouses, 258 apartments, 74,000 square feet of retail, and 228,750 square feet of industrial/office/tech space, along with parks and open spaces. Both meetings were agenda-only; minutes have not yet been published.

Municipal Council

On Aug. 18, the Municipal Council held a public hearing and vote on Ordinance 26-04, which would permit data centers as conditional uses in the Heavy Industrial District. The outcome is not yet published. The council also considered authorizing advertisement of Ordinance 26-05 to allow limited noncommercial keeping of hens, heard a presentation on a proposed 48-unit townhouse development at 600 E. Fornance Street, and considered a bid award of $32,700 to Watts Restoration Co., Inc. for a historic facade project at 129 E. Main Street. The council also considered approval of $32,700 in unobligated Historic Facade Program funds for that project.

Zoning Hearing Board

On Aug. 25 at 7 p.m., the Zoning Hearing Board will hold public hearings on five variance requests. The requests seek exceptions to zoning rules, including allowing two houses on one parcel at 524 Moore St., reusing abandoned duplexes at 39 E. Jacoby St. and 436 E. Moore St., adding one commercial space and two residential apartments at 541 Swede St., and reusing an abandoned quadraplex at 1021 Willow St.

Coming up

• Zoning Hearing Board, Aug. 25, 7 p.m., public hearings on five variance requests.

Norristown Council Faced Data Center Zoning, Police Hiring, and Bridge Repairs; State Hospital Redevelopment Reviews Ahead

Norristown's Municipal Council had a busy late July, with agendas covering data center zoning, police staffing, tax appeal settlements, and bridge repairs. Minutes for all three recent meetings have not yet been published, so the items below reflect what was scheduled for consideration — not confirmed outcomes.

Municipal Council — July 21

The July 21 council agenda included several items with budget and land-use implications:

• **Ordinance 26-04:** A proposed ordinance to permit data centers and accessory uses in the Heavy Industrial District. A public hearing was scheduled.
• **Resolution 26-55:** A request to hire five entry-level police officers.
• **Resolution 26-62:** Land development for the 1520 Arch Street Extension, related to Hancock Elementary School.
• **Microsoft licensing subscription** in the amount of $47,480.40.
• **$50,000 escrow** for PRDC Properties' land development review fees for the State Hospital Project.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not confirmed which of these items passed.

Municipal Council — July 23

The July 23 agenda focused on tax appeals, infrastructure, and grants:

• **Tax assessment appeal settlements** for two properties: 1500 Dekalb Street and 1430 Dekalb Street.
• **Ratification of an emergency contract** for repairs to the Marshall Street & Arch Street Bridge.
• **Contract with Cosimo Riccioli & Sons** for $23,985.00 for fitness court installation.
• **Authorization to apply for a $1.5 million DCED Multimodal Grant.**

Again, no minutes have been published, so outcomes are not confirmed.

Zoning Hearing Board — July 28

The Zoning Hearing Board scheduled a public hearing at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers to review variance requests for several residential properties. Five items were listed:

• **John Brodeur** — variance to restore an abandoned triplex at 1733 Willow St. (R-2 Residence District).
• **Richard Gallo** — variance to allow two houses on one parcel at 524 Moore St. (R-2 Residence District).
• **Andrew & Margaret Horvath** — variance to convert a patio to a sunroom at 1307 W. Oak St. (R-2 Residence District).
• **Sharif T. Dawson** — variance to install a wall sign at 617 Swede St. (R-2 Residence District).
• **Bar Holdings, LLC** — variance to use an abandoned duplex at 39 E. Jacoby St. (R-2 Residence District).

Each applicant was required to be present to be heard. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming Up

Three meetings in the next two weeks are worth noting:

• **August 5 — Municipal Council:** Agenda includes authorizing purchase of a water rescue boat trailer (Resolution 26-64), a police command vehicle and outfitting costs (Resolution 26-54), a three-year contract with Synario for financial modeling software (Resolution 26-67), adoption of the 2026–2030 Capital Improvements Plan Revision (Resolution 26-68), and conditional reappointment offers to three former police officers (Resolution 26-69).

• **August 11 — Planning Commission:** Review of a preliminary land development plan for "The Preserve at Stony Creek" at 1001 Sterigere Street, the former Norristown State Hospital site. Applicant Pinnacle Realty Development Company proposes 424 townhouses, 258 apartments, 74,000 sq ft of retail, and 228,750 sq ft of industrial/office/tech space.

• **August 12 — Design Review Board:** Procedural review of the same "The Preserve at Stony Creek" preliminary land development plans, with one substantive item under new business.

The State Hospital site redevelopment is the largest upcoming item by scale and will be reviewed by two separate bodies in consecutive days.