Council to Discuss Marshall St. Parking and New 'Health-Care District' Tonight

Norristown Municipal Council meets tonight at 7:30pm at Norristown Municipal Hall and while there are many items on the agenda, there are two that have some residents, business owners and members of the social service industry concerned – parking meters on Marshall Street and the rezoning of the "Health-Care District."

Council approved adding parking meters to the business district on West Marshall Street earlier this year, but some business owners objected to the plan and collected signatures on a petition to try and get the approval recinded.

The issue is listed on tonight's meeting agenda as a topic of discussion and those opposing the plan are expected to attend to speak out on the issue.

The new "Health-Care District" is also expected to bring by some members of the social service community out to express their opposition. The ordinance outlining the district would require new social service and substance abuse centers wishing to locate in the neighborhoods around and the to request a variance from the zoning board. Already existing services will be grandfathered in, but if those services should plan to expand or add services, they would also need a variance.

The ordinance suggests that new social service and substance abuse centers would be better suited to the "Heavy industrial District" in the area around the riverfront. According to the ordinance, situating those services along the riverfront is "in the best interests of the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Norristown and the general public."

In additon to restricting social services and substance abuse centers the ordinace also prohibits detention centers, adult entertainment uses including but not limited to adult bookstores, adult entertainment cabarets, and adult motion-picture theaters, tattoo parlors, check-cashing facilities, pawn shops, beer take-out stores, and other uses determined by council to be of similar nature.

You can download the full "Health-Care District" ordinance and tonight's Municipal Councli meeting agenda in our PDF section.