Bridgeport Borough Council handled several development, property and infrastructure matters during its September 22 meeting, including moving a major rewrite of the borough’s subdivision and land development regulations closer to a public hearing.

Council also authorized the borough to begin the sealed-bid process for 36 W. Front Street, approved a $6,000 parking-in-lieu request connected to a Fourth Street development project and heard additional details about more than $750,000 in grant funding expected to transform the former Camelot parking lot on Mill Street.

Council voted in favor of a request from the owner of 101 E. 4th Street, home to Dino’s Pizza and Pasta, to use the borough’s fee-in-lieu-of-parking provision.

The project had previously received support from Council and later received the zoning relief needed from the Bridgeport Zoning Hearing Board.

Under the request approved Tuesday, the property owner will make a $6,000 payment to the borough in place of providing two required parking spaces, calculated at $3,000 per space.

Council also voted to authorize advertisement of a substantial rewrite of Bridgeport’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, commonly referred to as the SALDO.

The borough has been working on the revision since March 2025 as part of a broader update of Bridgeport’s planning and zoning regulations. The SALDO establishes the process and physical development standards that apply when properties are subdivided or when qualifying land development occurs.

Among the changes discussed during the presentation are revised procedures for sketch, preliminary, final and minor plans, updated engineering and design standards, and clearer requirements for transportation, stormwater and other impact studies.

Under the proposed ordinance, a transportation impact study would automatically be triggered by several thresholds, including developments generating at least 40 peak-hour trips or 400 daily trips, subdivisions of 10 or more lots, or projects involving at least 20,000 square feet. Council would still retain the ability to require an impact study for a project that falls below those thresholds.

The definition of a minor subdivision would also become more restrictive. Under the draft, a division of one lot into two could qualify as a minor plan, while a larger subdivision would generally follow the full process unless Council grants a waiver.

Tuesday’s vote did not adopt the new SALDO.

Borough officials said the draft still requires legal review, review by the Montgomery County Planning Commission, public availability and a public hearing before Council could vote on final adoption. Borough staff indicated the goal is to potentially complete the process toward the end of the year.

Council unanimously approved Resolution 2026-48, authorizing the borough to dispose of its property at 36 W. Front Street through a sealed-bid process.

The property was described during the meeting as the stone-fronted house previously purchased by the borough.

The resolution does not mean the property has been sold. It authorizes the borough to solicit bids.

Officials said the bid notice will be advertised in the Times Herald, posted on the borough website and likely shared through the borough’s Facebook page.

Borough Manager Keith Truman also provided additional information about plans for the borough-owned parking lot at 440 Mill Street, formerly associated with the Camelot property.

Truman said Bridgeport was recently awarded a $508,692 Local Share Account grant through the Commonwealth Financing Authority for rehabilitation of the property.

Plans include a reconstructed parking lot, new lighting, EV charging stations and approximately 56 to 60 parking spaces. Because the proposed Bridgeport Spur Trail would pass the property, the borough also plans for the site to function as a trailhead.

Bridgeport previously received a $250,000 Montco 2040 grant for the project.

Combined, Truman said the two grants should allow the work to be completed with little to no local borough taxpayer funding.

No construction start date was announced during the meeting.

Council also received an update on the new playground at Memorial Park.

Playground equipment was expected to arrive September 28, followed by installation and construction work. Once the equipment is installed, crews are expected to install poured-in-place rubber surfacing.

The borough estimated the entire process could take approximately four to six weeks and said it was targeting Halloween for completion and a possible public unveiling.

Council authorized advertisement of another proposed ordinance updating Chapter 155 of the borough code covering animals.

The draft would clarify rules involving livestock and fowl, prohibit certain exotic and wild animals, establish a list of animals permitted as pets and update enforcement authority so borough police and code enforcement officers can enforce applicable provisions.

The proposal would also create a registration system for individuals acting as feral-cat caregivers, including those participating in trapping, spaying or neutering and releasing feral cats.

Council’s action Tuesday was authorization to advertise the proposed ordinance, not final adoption.

Council approved a curb-cut request for 25 Prospect Avenue.

Officials described the proposed access as being at the rear of the property off an alley and said the property had sufficient room for ingress and egress.

During public comment, Bridgeport resident David Conway, speaking on behalf of Upper Merion Against Data Centers, asked Borough Council to seek party status in an upcoming Upper Merion zoning proceeding involving proposed data center development.

Conway asked Bridgeport to act before an October 21 Upper Merion Zoning Hearing Board proceeding and argued that potential impacts could extend beyond municipal boundaries.

Council did not vote or otherwise take action on the request during the September 22 meeting.

Another resident, who identified himself as the owner of 29 W. Front Street, questioned the borough about property and recent work behind homes on that block.

The discussion centered on a strip of borough-owned land, grading, access to newly created parking and a potential plan for sidewalks and stairs connecting the properties to the parking area.

The borough solicitor said the borough’s concept would be to construct a sidewalk behind the properties with steps leading to the parking area and potentially convey portions of borough-owned land to adjoining property owners at no cost.

However, he said discussions with the affected property owners were still underway and that the borough would need their cooperation before moving ahead with the full concept.

For now, that matter remains under discussion, with no final action announced.

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