The State College Planning Commission may recommend that the borough begin its own rental housing inspection program.

After debating the feasibility of such a program at yesterday's worksession, the commission may recommend next week that the State College Borough Council establish a program to check for violations of health and safety regulations.

Some commission members want a borough inspection program because they believe COG does not conduct inspections frequently or thoroughly enough, borough planning director Carl Hess said.

Other members question the feasability of the program, citing concerns over costs despite the fact that such a program would be funded by a proposed licensing fee paid by rental property owners.

"This is a waste of time and money," said Nichol Barlett, a commission member and vice president of the Organization for Town Independent Students.

New developers would be discouraged by having to pay an added licensing fee, Barlett said.

Commission President Peter Everett said the borough could keep costs down by combining its proposed inspection program with COG's housing inspection program.

But Hess said a combined COG-borough venture would not meet the borough's needs because COG does not regulate trash collection and parking.

In other business, the commission agreed to move ahead with a proposal designed to reduce congestion on borough streets.

The proposal would require permits for residents and commuters wishing to park on non-metered streets close to downtown, such as Foster and Nittany avenues.

Residents would receive free permits to park on streets outside their homes, while commuters would be charged a fee. The proposal will be sent to borough council next month, Everett said.

Students and commuters have opposed this move at previous meetings.

But Everett said it is more important that residents be allowed to park outside their homes than commuters be provided with free parking, Everett said.