Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Norristown public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
6 issues in zoning with high priority
R-2 Residential District Zoning Text Amendment
Ordinance 26-10 would change R-2 residential zoning to allow townhouse and multiplex dwellings, use of the UPCA for lot dimensioning, and revised parking standards — tied to a proposed 48-unit development at 600 E. Fornance Street.
Parking Permit Reductions and Enforcement Concerns
Council formally ordained no-parking signage along the High Street/Linda Lane curve near the Hancock Elementary pedestrian path — signs that had been up for years but were never legally adopted.
Multi-Family Residential Rowhouse Standards Amendment
Residents and board members debated the ongoing conversion of single-family homes into duplexes and multi-unit rentals, with residents voicing concerns about neighborhood stability and over-densification.
Chain Street Multi-Family Use Dispute
Property owners and municipal officials are locked in a debate over whether a large, fire-damaged building at 705 Chain Street can legally operate as a triplex or quadruplex or must be restricted to a single-family home.
Significant Tobacco Retailer Zoning Controls
Council adopted Ordinance 26-03, establishing strict zoning definitions and conditional use standards for significant tobacco retailers, vape shops, and hookah bars.
Zoning Regulations for Arcades and Amusement Devices
Council considered and adopted Ordinance 26-01, which restricts skill games and amusement devices by eliminating them as primary uses in several districts and requiring conditional use approval in the Commercial Retail district.