Borough Services
Contents:
Sidewalks
With public safety in mind, the Borough has an ongoing program which requires property owners to construct and properly maintain sidewalks.
Nuisances
To provide the people of Shippensburg with a safe, clean, and healthy
environment, the Nuisance Ordinance prohibits the accumulation of abandoned
vehicles, brush, trash, or other debris. This Ordinance also regulates the
use or storage of appliances and upholstered furniture on property exteriors;
dangerous structures; and sunbathing on porch and house roofs.
Historical Architectural Review Board
All construction, including signs, which are in the Historic District and are
visible from the street address, must be reviewed by the Historical
Architectural Review Board, which makes recommendations to Borough Council.
If the applicant is in agreement of the Review Board's recommendation(s) and signs the recommendation(s),
a permit may be issued. If the applicant wishes to appeal any or all of the Review
Board's recommendation(s), Borough Council's approval is required before a permit
may be obtained.
Demolition or razing of any structure in the Historic District must be reviewed by the Historic
Architectural Review Board, which makes recommendations to Borough Council.
Borough Councilmust then approve all applications to raze any structure
in the Historic District before a permit is issued.
Rental Properties
The Borough requires that all rental properties be licensed, registered, and
inspected. There is an annual registration fee charged per unit, per year, with a
registration deadline of January 31st each year. Property must be registered in the
new owner's name(s) within ten (10) days of the settlement date. All new
rental units are inspected as soon as possible. Existing units are inspected
on a three-year cycle.
Building Permits
Building permits are required for all construction within the Borough. This
includes new signs and refacing of existing signs. There is no charge for a
permit if the cost of construction will be less than $1500.00. All
construction, including signs, which are in the Historic District and are
visible from the street address, must be reviewed by the Historical
Architectural Review Board which makes recommendations to Borough Council.
See Historical Architectural Review Board.
Back to Contents
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1991. Due to Pennsylvania's new recycling law, ACT 101,
the Borough of Shippensburg will no longer accept grass clippings, leaves,
tree branches, and shrubbery trimmings with garbage collection. However,
several options exist for Borough residents that utilize these organic
materials and turn them into a valuable resource. They include backyard
composting, grasscycling and the Leaf Composting Facility located on Avon
Drive. By using these methods, we will contribute toward reducing the amount
of waste being received at a landfill.
Option 1 - Backyard Composting
Any time of the year is a good time to begin a compost pile. You can easily
start a compost heap in your own backyard by following these steps:
1. COLLECT available waste materials (leaves, grass, kitchen scraps,
etc ... ) in a convenient but inconspicuous spot.
2. SPRINKLE a layer of soil over the top. This adds decomposing
microorganisms and helps to keep nutrients and moisture in the compost heap.
3. ENCLOSE the compost heap with chicken wire, cement blocks, or some
other kind of fence to keep the compost in one place.
4. WATER the compost heap until it is damp but not soggy.
5. POKE openings into the compost heap to allow air to enter in order
to keep it active and eliminate odors.
6. TURN the compost heap every few days for a finished fertilizer in a
month or so. The heap will take about a year to compost without turning.
7. ADD organic materials as they become available such as grass
clippings, leaves, sawdust, fruit and vegetable scraps, straw, hay, coffee
grounds, eggshells, nut, shells, clam and oyster shells, manure, pet wastes,
fireplace ashes, or almost any plant material.
8. DON'T use meat, bones, grease, newspaper, whole branches, logs,
fat, or plastic.
The compost heap is ready to use when it is dark and crumbly, like a rich
soil.
Option 2 - Grasscycling
Grasscycling means naturally recycling grass clippings by leaving them on the
lawn when mowing. During the summer months, grass clippings make up between
18-20% of all municipal waste. Homeowners can help solve our solid waste
problem by returning grass, clippings to the lawn and not bagging them. This
contributes to the soil organic matter and supplies part of the lawn's
fertilizer needs. It is a simple and effective way to help conserve landfill
capacity, while saving time, work, and money. The benefit is a greener,
healthier lawn.
GRASSCYCLING DOES NOT CAUSE THATCH BUILD-UP IN THE LAWN.
An 11-year study, at Beltsville, Maryland, showed that thatch is composed
primarily of grass roots, not clippings. Clippings left on the lawn decay
quickly and release valuable nutrients back to the established grass.
GRASSCYCLING DOES NOT SPREAD LAWN DISEASE
Watering, fertilization, and sharpness of the mower blade have a much greater
influence on the occurrence of disease than grasscycling.
GRASSCYCLING SAVES TIME AND WORK
A recent study at Fort Worth, Texas found that homeowners who quit bagging
their clippings saved an average of 35 minutes per mowing or seven hours of
yard work over a six-month period.
GRASSCYCLING CAN BE DONE WITH ANY LAWN MOWER
No special equipment is necessary to grasscycle.
GRASSCYCLING IS A PROVEN AND EFFECTIVE METHOD OF LAWN MANAGEMENT
It also provides an environmentally important opportunity for everyone to
participate in curbside waste reduction.
WATERING AND FERTILIZING
Mowing, when the grass is wet should be avoided because this produces clumps
that smother the lawn. If the clippings are collected they should be used as
a mulch around trees shrubs, or gardens. The amount of grass clippings can be
reduced by avoiding excessive lawn fertilizing and watering. Avoid daily
watering and watering in evenings because these practices encourage disease.
The best time to water, if needed, is early morning.
MOWING TIPS
To grasscycle, you need to adopt a mowing schedule that keeps clippings short
enough to filter through the remaining grass and not mat on top. As a general
rule, no more than 1/3 of the leaf tissue should be cut
while mowing.
Option 3 - Leaf Composting Facility
If circumstances exist that prevent the use of backyard composting and
grasscycling, leaves, tree branches, and shrubbery trimmings can be
taken to the Leaf Composting Facility Sunday through Saturday, dusk til dawn.
Leaves will be composted according to Department of Environmental Resources guidelines.
LEAF COLLECTION
Pennsylvania's new recycling law (Act 101), requires that the Borough of
Shippensburg keep leaves separate from solid waste. Leaves will be collected
in piles at the curb from mid October to mid December, on scheduled days, which
will appear in the News Chronicle. Don't put leaves in plastic bags or in
with garbage for collection.
For more information contact the Borough Office at (717) 532-2147.
Back to Contents
http://www.borough.shippensburg.pa.us
(717)532-2147
© Borough of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
(717) 532-2147
|