Gilpin officials want to hear from township residents and business owners concerning ongoing efforts to officially rezone the township.

Residents are asked to review the proposed zoning ordinance and fill out the corresponding online comment form by Sept. 25.

“It’s time to bring our township into the 21st century,” Supervisors Chairman Charles Stull said.

A $39,000 zoning overhaul project launched in 2022 by a township project steering committee has included input from the public.

Gilpin’s zoning laws date to 1985 and include designations for agricultural, residential, commercial, conservation and industrial.

The planning commission voted 3-0 on Aug. 8 to forward a proposed draft of the township’s zoning ordinance update for a 45-day public comment time frame.

The public is invited to review the draft that includes a township map at gilpintwp.com/zoning.

Residents without internet access can obtain a paper copy from the municipal building.

In an effort to promote more new business, changes to the zoning ordinance would include extending the township’s business district along Route 66 by about 1.5 miles.

After the Sept. 25 deadline, supervisors will compile all of the comments and include them in the draft ordinance, Stull said.

“Following these changes, residents can expect a public hearing to be held by the board, followed by final adoption of the zoning ordinance,” Stull said.

Before final enactment, supervisors will host a public meeting, publish a summary of the ordinance and file an attested copy of the ordinance with the Armstrong County Law Library.

The ordinance would be enacted 90 days thereafter.

The zoning project steering committee includes Stull, zoning officer/secretary/treasurer Sharon Long, planning commission member Donna Rentler, zoning hearing board member Beth McDonald and consultants from Mackin Engineering.

Long encouraged residents to get involved and share their comments and opinions on zoning.

“This ordinance update should be led by the community,” Long said Wednesday. “We’re asking residents to give us your comments on the draft and help steer our progress.”

Since being elected supervisor in 2018, Stull has advocated for updated map and zoning ordinances for the rural township, which was settled in 1814.

Gilpin, historically agricultural, currently is zoned 40% in that category.

“I, personally, feel all of Route 66 should be a business district — from one end of the township to another,” Stull said last year.

Gilpin, which has a population of about 2,400, is a zoned community, and permits are required and enforced by Long and code enforcement administrator Christopher Fabec.

If approved, the proposed ordinance would divide the township into seven classes of zoning districts; recreation (Rec-1), recreation (Rec-2), agricultural, residential (R-1), residential (R-2), business and industrial.

To record comments online, click here.

Residents with questions are asked to email project consultant Brandi Rosselli at brosselli@mackineering.com.

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