Full Transcript

·YouTLDR

Zoning Hearing Board Meeting - November 18th, 2024

1:32:586,300 words · ~32 min readEnglishTranscribed Jun 15, 2026
AI Summary

The Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board approved key special exceptions and variances, including a 24/7 supportive housing facility for transition-age foster youth, an urban infill basement apartment conversion to create sub-$1,000 rental housing, and standardized digital communication signage across multiple school district campuses.

This meeting highlights how local zoning exceptions and density rules are leveraged to expand affordable housing options, manage commercial signage in urban corridors, and transition underutilized real estate to serve vulnerable demographics.

Section summaries

0:00-30:20

Meeting Setup and Technical Delay

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This section consists of dead air, setup delays, and technical adjustments prior to the official start of the zoning board hearing.

This section contains no spoken content, presentations, or business activity.

30:20-39:40

Application 2588 - 2743 N. Front St.

watch

The board hears an application for a special exception to establish a 24/7 supportive housing facility for foster care youth. Representatives from Thrive Housing Services discuss licensing, staffing ratios, and partnerships with Dauphin County.

It details important administrative, staffing, and regulatory steps for operating transitional youth housing programs.

39:40-49:00

Application 2590 - 1100 N. 6th St.

optional

The board considers an expansion of a legally non-conforming freestanding sign to improve visibility and direct traffic near the Broad Street Market. The applicant details the setback requirements and parking arrangements.

It is mainly relevant to local signage ordinances and the visibility problems of this specific property.

49:00-56:00

Application 2591 - School Signage (N. 5th St.)

optional

The board reviews the Harrisburg School District's application to install an internally illuminated freestanding sign. Discussion covers sign height, size, and potential light spillover to neighboring houses.

This is a standard school district sign variance request with typical light pollution evaluations.

56:00-1:03:00

Application 2592 - School Signage (N. 6th St.)

optional

The Harrisburg School District presents plans for three large internally illuminated wall signs at the Hamilton School. The planning bureau discusses neighborhood context, vacant properties, and aesthetic alignment.

It repeats the general arguments regarding standardized school branding and neighborhood safety information.

1:03:00-1:10:00

Application 2593 - School Signage (State St.)

optional

The board discusses installing five internally illuminated wall signs on the former school board office block. A debate centers on limiting the school to a single electronic message center board instead of two to avoid visual clutter.

It outlines the compromise reached to reduce municipal light clutter while allowing essential school district messaging.

1:10:00-1:21:40

Application 2594 - 262 North St.

watch

The board hears an application to construct a fourth residential unit in an existing multi-family building's basement. Developers address safety egresses, target rental pricing under $1,000, and off-street parking availability.

This section provides essential insights into urban density planning, historic preservation triggers, and affordable infill development.

1:21:40-1:31:00

Board Deliberation and Vote

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The board members vote and formally approve the various special exception and variance requests with the conditions outlined by the planning commission.

It contains the final legal determinations and administrative outcomes for all applications heard during the meeting.

Key points

  • Foster Care Transitional Housing Approval — The board approved a special exception for Thrive Housing Services at 2743 North Front Street to establish a 24/7 supportive housing facility for up to eight youth aged 18-24 transitioning out of foster care, occupying the former offices of the Alternative Rehabilitation Center.
  • Infill Housing Creation via Density Exceptions — At 262 North Street, developers secured a special exception to add a fourth apartment unit inside a semi-aboveground basement, bypassing strict density rules that would otherwise require a full variance because the building was already classified as legally non-conforming.
  • School District Communication Standardization — The board granted multiple signage variances to the Harrisburg School District for properties on North Fifth Street, North Sixth Street, and State Street to construct internally illuminated and electronic message boards to keep families informed of safety issues and community programs.
the proposed use seeks to address a vulnerable population and provide them with Services which enable personal growth and self-sufficiency allowing them to thrive after their time at the facility Zoning Officer / Planning Representative
this is a case of every additional unit in the city helps to to meet the needs and and provide options to somebody because this is likely you know going to be priced considerably cheaper Planning Representative

AI-generated from the transcript. May contain errors.

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apologize for the L

31:13

you

31:56

first

32:13

a

32:56

we also

33:15

okay yep uh Michael O Conor the first

33:18

one is uh continued from uh old business

33:22

application

33:24

2588 and uh it's 27 43 North Front

33:29

Street and I'll read in the uh

33:32

exhibits so we got uh B1 is the proof of

33:35

publication in The Patriot news B2 is

33:39

applicants uh notification letters to

33:41

required neighbors B3 is the

33:43

application uh with attachments at add

33:46

business plan photos of exterior and

33:48

interior of the property B4 is a d to

33:51

the property establishing applicants

33:53

standing to pursue uh the application B5

33:57

is the planning case report B6 is the uh

34:01

Harrisburg Planning Commission

34:02

resolution B7 is a letter sent from the

34:05

planning director to the applicant

34:07

notifying of the hearing and B8 is the

34:10

hearing notice posting uh that was

34:12

posted on the property so with that we

34:15

got B1 through B8 previously we had A's

34:18

one and two as they were continuance

34:20

requests so

34:29

I

34:31

do uh yes so the uh case before uh the

34:34

board tonight uh for 2588 uh is a

34:36

special exception request uh the

34:39

applicant is proposing to establish a

34:41

Supportive Housing facility use on site

34:43

uh the proposal requires zhb approval of

34:45

a special exception uh per section

34:48

73057 of the zoning code uh so the

34:51

applicant um uh that what existed

34:54

previously on site was essentially very

34:57

similar use um it was the offices uh for

35:01

um I believe uh Arc alternative

35:04

Rehabilitation Center I believe is what

35:05

it was called um and they managed a

35:07

similar population to that of uh what

35:10

the applicants are proposing um it was

35:11

just an office use so occupied during

35:13

the day as opposed to occupied um um 247

35:18

uh so the current proposal is for a

35:20

facility for um youth that are exiting

35:24

the foster care system um and 18 to 24

35:28

year olds I believe uh and the

35:30

applicants uh organization works with

35:33

such individuals to help prepare them um

35:36

for life on their own uh teaching them

35:38

Services helping them get uh things like

35:40

geds um and basically providing a place

35:43

for for them to live while they uh get

35:45

on their feet um as noted the uh

35:49

proposal is very similar to the existing

35:51

use um or to the previous use on site so

35:54

the it's anticipated that the uh impacts

35:57

from the proposed use will be similar uh

35:59

and will not have adverse impacts on the

36:02

surrounding neighborhood um with that

36:04

being said the Planning Commission

36:05

recommended that the zoning hearing

36:07

board approve the request with the

36:09

following conditions uh the applicant

36:11

will provide the planning Bureau with

36:12

all federal state and County licenses of

36:15

the facility operator to ensure that

36:17

they that the proposed uses in

36:18

conformance with the applicable specific

36:20

criteria in the zoning code um the

36:22

Planning Commission recommends that the

36:24

zoning hearing board approve the request

36:25

for the following reasons propos will be

36:27

similar to that of the previous business

36:29

on site which operated for 23 years and

36:31

will accommodate the same population

36:32

groups as such impacts should be similar

36:35

in nature and uh the proposed use seeks

36:38

to address a vulnerable population and

36:40

provide them with Services which enable

36:42

personal growth and self-sufficiency

36:44

allowing them to thrive after their time

36:46

at the facility

37:03

so David cus um 3510 Road Pennsylvania

37:07

owner of the

37:11

building

37:13

excuse D Allen Thrive Housing Services

37:16

I'm the executive director uh 2601

37:19

Walnut Street Harrisburg C

37:22

1713 and

37:26

yes yes so appreciate that very much so

37:30

one of the things that's

37:32

been we do fix flips but we want to

38:01

really for

38:05

I but so KN that had already been AAR

38:09

there no aders back previously one of

38:11

things we did also we did list and have

38:14

a meeting withing Comm we have multiple

38:16

members from the come and they all

38:19

support which we thought was awesome

38:22

we approve what we're doing as well um

38:25

but that's

38:57

what

39:00

so the license requires a 24hour staff

39:03

and we'll be working with Dolphin County

39:05

and the state to provide the services um

39:07

the license is from the Department of

39:09

Human Services from the state um but the

39:11

county is the overseer of the referrals

39:14

so they would be referring um kids to

39:16

the program but the requirements of the

39:18

license is that we have to have the

39:19

24hour

39:24

St and what and what will be the St in

39:27

the 247 like how many people you know

39:31

need to be there what type or that Tye

39:33

you know what what is necessary um the

39:36

license requires a 1 to six at night and

39:39

a two to eight during the day um so we

39:42

will comply with that but we will have

39:44

um additional staff because um our

39:47

agency requires two staff um in the

39:50

facility at all times since there only

39:52

be eight kids um there it's a small

39:55

number of kids but we will have two

39:57

staff on site at all times okay so it is

40:01

like 1 to six staff at Night 2 to 8

40:04

during the day right and it is up to8 or

40:07

will be eight right whatever but that's

40:09

it okay

40:18

excent I see the only thing is you know

40:20

look through all the exception does look

40:21

like we check every single was happy to

40:24

see that you for sure

40:30

no you

40:31

can is there one uh is there a condition

40:36

is there just one condition just the one

40:38

condition basically about satisfying the

40:40

specific criteria got it

40:48

okay and the Planning

40:51

Commission second

41:16

I okay so what

41:21

is uh right

41:23

2590 right okay

41:28

all right so it's application

41:32

2590 uh 1100 North 6

41:35

Street and the exhibits are B1 proof of

41:39

publication Patriot news um November 3rd

41:43

and November 10th 2024 B2 is a letter

41:47

sent from the planning director to the

41:48

applicant notifying of tonight's hearing

41:50

B3 hearing notice uh posted on the

41:54

property uh before applicants notif

41:57

ification letters to required neighbors

41:59

B5 is the application with attached uh

42:03

photos um and plans B6 is a deed uh to

42:08

the property establishing applicant

42:10

owner standing to pursue the zoning

42:12

relief B7 planning Bureau case report

42:15

and B8 is the uh city of Harrisburg

42:18

Planning Commission resolution so B1

42:21

through

42:23

B8 uh yes so uh case number 259

42:27

um as noted involves a special exception

42:31

uh and that is because the existing free

42:34

standing sign itself is legally

42:36

non-conforming uh because such signage

42:38

is not permitted by right in the RM

42:39

District in which the property is

42:41

located um so in

42:43

evaluating um uh what Z relief would be

42:47

necessary um you know we just looked at

42:50

as a special exception because the signs

42:51

existing as a non-conformance and as an

42:53

expansion of that non-conforming aspect

42:56

um with respect

42:57

uh to the actual proposal uh in the

43:00

request uh we had indicated that they're

43:02

increasing the signage height from 42

43:05

feet to 6 feet it appears that actually

43:07

um uh to 7 and 1 12 ft um 90 in and the

43:12

size from 7 to 12 squ fet uh the size of

43:15

the signage face is actually 24 Square F

43:17

feet uh our initial review of the

43:20

project was based upon the applicant

43:21

statements that would be similar to um

43:23

their existing sign and to a nearby sign

43:25

for Cumberland Court Apartments and that

43:27

was how we had kind of determined that

43:29

but we got additional documentation from

43:31

the applicant after the Planning

43:32

Commission meeting that uh clarified

43:34

what their uh new uh signage was going

43:38

to look like um so the applicants are uh

43:42

basically uh looking for signage uh or

43:44

increased signage because their existing

43:46

sign is not really visible uh if you've

43:48

ever driven down Sixth Street there um

43:51

you know in addition uh to uh the large

43:54

setback and kind of the small sign where

43:56

it's located uh the corridor itself is

43:58

fairly busy um and there's a number of

44:00

different um uh activities going on

44:02

whether it's Broad Street Market or uh

44:05

the school the Ben Franklin School right

44:07

there and then there's offices and

44:08

apartment building that's directly

44:09

across the street from this property um

44:12

it does make it a little bit diff

44:14

difficult to um Identify the property to

44:17

to read it uh to determine you know that

44:19

it's maybe what you're looking for um

44:22

with the existing sign and um I think a

44:24

lot of the same uh regulation or a lot

44:27

of the same considerations that appli to

44:29

the school district's uh signage

44:31

proposal for uh across the street at

44:33

1012 North 6 Street uh apply here um the

44:37

conditions are obviously similar in that

44:38

case the zoning District was uh

44:40

institutional and not RM so uh although

44:43

it was uh less restrictive um again the

44:46

same issues with visibility

44:49

identification um and conveyance of

44:51

information uh apply here in this uh

44:54

scenario uh so with that being said uh

44:57

um and the applicants are proposing to

44:59

relocate the sign uh from its existing

45:01

position kind of right near the building

45:04

and the uh pedestrian access up a short

45:06

flight of stairs uh closer to the

45:08

vehicular access uh they have a parking

45:10

lot that's uh kind of shared with the

45:12

Cumberland Court departments and access

45:13

from six Street uh and this sign will be

45:16

located closer to that vular entrance uh

45:19

and in addition to kind of better

45:21

identifying where the parking lot for

45:23

the for the facility is um it's less uh

45:27

obstructed by trees uh this location so

45:29

it will be much more visible uh and uh

45:32

you know definitely clear for the

45:34

public that being said the Planning

45:37

Commission has recommended that the

45:38

zoning hearing board approve the request

45:40

with the following conditions uh the

45:42

applicant will ensure that the sign must

45:43

be installed at least 5T from the

45:44

property line along North 6 Street uh in

45:47

the uh attached rendering I think it

45:49

looks like it's probably a little bit um

45:51

closer than that so they'll just have to

45:53

uh move it a little bit you know kind of

45:55

into the site and it looks like

45:57

sufficient room to do so uh per the uh

45:59

rendering um to ensure that it's 5T

46:02

outside of the uh setback uh and then

46:04

the Planning Commission recommended that

46:06

the zoning hearing board approve the

46:07

request for the following reasons uh the

46:09

applicant has met their burden of proof

46:10

demonstrating the special exception

46:12

request should be approved by the zoning

46:14

hearing board although the existing sign

46:15

is legally non-conforming its height and

46:17

size are similar to regulatory

46:19

allowances for other types of signs in

46:21

the RM district and the proposed sign

46:23

does not differ significantly or does

46:24

not significantly increase these aspects

46:26

uh given the context of the installation

46:28

site with the proposed sign located

46:30

along a large Frontage and across the

46:31

street from a large internally

46:33

illuminated freestanding sign that was

46:35

approved earlier this year at the Ben

46:36

Franklin School it is reasonable to

46:38

conclude that the Propst sign will not

46:39

create adverse impacts on surrounding

46:41

Properties or be contrary to the general

46:43

character of the neighborhood uh and the

46:45

proposed sign will be more conspicuous

46:47

and better identify both the applicant's

46:49

location as well as the vehicular entry

46:50

point helping to provide safer traffic

46:52

circulation for visitors and the General

46:54

Public

46:59

uh Gary Brinton 105 Holly Hills Drive

47:02

Harrisburg Pennsylvania and I

47:13

do

47:16

I um I don't have much to add except I

47:19

hope um we can clearly establish where

47:24

the setback should be in working with

47:26

our

47:28

we'll do that as well make sure that

47:30

that occurs and

47:33

um I just hope that uh we can get

47:35

approval so we can proceed and then

47:37

it'll be more attractive and easily to

47:40

get to have a lot of people saying we

47:43

can't find

47:55

you right

48:05

and it's mainly just for the planning so

48:08

je this one that was in the the uh

48:12

exhibit so this would have been

48:15

with the application probably later you

48:18

know submitt or added that was just

48:21

showing you is showing you what these

48:23

numbers add up to what I think it is

48:26

such as has

48:28

24 uh Square ft the total uh it's like

48:31

4X six right and it looks to be 7 and

48:35

1/2 ft in height so that seems to be

48:39

what I'm looking at in this packet seems

48:41

to be what what it is so um yeah

48:58

and just to make sure that you're okay

49:00

as far as with the just that one

49:03

condition with it being five five feet

49:07

right that's just uh uh right that

49:10

that's okay with the applicant as well

49:12

just that one thing yep

49:21

okay with condition

49:51

office from the S the condition stated

49:55

in the resolution y

50:04

second

50:10

I okay

50:34

okay so we have 20 application

50:39

2591 uh 2537 North fth

50:42

Street um and the exhibits are B1 proof

50:47

of

50:48

publication B2 is a letter sent from the

50:50

planning director to the applicant

50:52

notifying of the hearing B3 is the

50:54

hearing notice posted on the property B4

50:57

applicants notification letters to uh

51:00

the neighbors B5

51:02

application uh with a attachments plans

51:05

photos that type of thing B6 is a d to

51:09

the property establishing applicant

51:11

owners standing to pursue the zoning

51:12

relief B7 planning Bureau case report

51:15

and B8 city of Harrisburg Planning

51:18

Commission resolution so B1 through

51:24

ba8 sure uh so the the following three

51:27

cases uh although um uh listed

51:31

separately as 2591 2592 and 2593 all

51:34

involve the uh same applicant the

51:36

Harrisburg School District and roughly

51:38

the uh similar Sage proposals um and uh

51:42

these are relatively similar to uh the

51:44

science proposals that as referenced in

51:46

the last case uh the boards reviewed and

51:49

approved earlier this year uh with

51:51

respect to the signage for 2537 North

51:54

Fifth Street uh the applicant is

51:56

proposing to install a new internally

51:57

illuminated freestanding sign which

51:59

requires relief from three aspects of

52:01

the signage regulations regarding size

52:03

height and illumination The Proposal

52:05

requires approval of three variances for

52:07

a sign larger uh than permitted by W and

52:10

that's 33.3 s ft by um versus by right

52:13

is 8 square feet sign taller than

52:16

permitted by right that's 7.3 feet uh

52:18

versus the permitted height of 4 feet

52:20

and an internally illuminated sign um

52:23

you know I think uh this is very similar

52:26

to uh the case for 301 hail Avenue uh

52:29

that was reviewed um and is similar in

52:33

that the existing um building and the

52:35

existing site did not include any uh

52:38

signage um or minimal signage both

52:40

identifying the property for what it was

52:42

and being able to commute uh communicate

52:44

information to the to the public uh and

52:47

to parents and students um there's

52:50

obviously a large uh setback on this

52:53

property um with a fenc in yard at the

52:56

front and then there's a uh good bit of

52:59

space between the sidewalk and that

53:02

fencing in which the proposed sign will

53:04

be installed um the sign is going to be

53:08

facing uh perpendicular to the roadway

53:10

so there were some concerns referenced

53:12

at the Planning Commission meeting about

53:14

potential light spill over onto adjacent

53:16

properties um because of the way the uh

53:19

sign will be configured uh there will be

53:21

no light whatsoever pointed at the um

53:23

adjacent properties across North Fifth

53:25

Street um um and in fact uh the

53:28

illumination created by the signs is

53:30

relatively minimal if the um sign at

53:33

1012 nor six street is anything to go by

53:35

um it's there's not a lot of glare it's

53:38

generally pretty contained uh within the

53:40

signage face um and so you know we do

53:43

not anticipate any adverse impacts like

53:46

a internally illuminated light box sign

53:48

or something like that that uh that

53:50

there would be on adjacent uh

53:53

properties that being said uh the

53:56

planning

53:56

commission is recommending the zoning

53:58

hear board approv the request for the

54:00

following reasons uh an electronic any

54:02

electronic messages displayed on the

54:04

proposed sign will conform to the

54:05

regulations in section 7-325

54:08

.11 of the zoning code regarding light

54:11

and glare and prohibited electronically

54:12

changing messages uh and then the

54:15

applicant will ensure that the sign must

54:16

be installed at least 5 feet from the

54:18

property line along North Fifth Street

54:20

uh planning Bureau uh Planning

54:22

Commission recommends that the loing

54:24

hearing board approve the request for

54:25

the following reason reasons the signage

54:27

is consistent with the size height and

54:29

illumination of existing of signage

54:31

existing at or proposed for other

54:33

facilities owned by the Harrisburg

54:34

School District ensuring consistency in

54:36

messaging across all

54:39

properties the signage will be situated

54:42

to face Northbound traffic on North

54:43

Fifth Street and configured to minimize

54:45

or eliminate any potential impacts on

54:47

adjacent Residential Properties and

54:49

finally the property currently features

54:50

no exterior signage which allows the

54:52

school district to convey information to

54:53

the general public parents and children

54:56

the proposed sign will be able to convey

54:58

more information about educational and

54:59

Community programs activities and

55:01

services and enhanced communication

55:03

between the school district and the

55:04

general

55:13

public hi John REI I'm the chief of

55:15

operations for the Harrisburg School

55:18

District I'm uh Mike Schultz with RPM

55:20

signs

55:26

you raise your right

55:31

hand I

55:35

do that's

55:37

it yeah really not much more to add uh

55:40

but the Harrisburg School District is in

55:42

the process of uh wanting to communicate

55:44

more to the community we found that the

55:46

electronic signs is just another piece

55:49

of being able to do that uh being a

55:51

important information you know recognize

55:54

our students and uh for safety reasons

55:57

as well in terms of communicating that

55:58

of information

56:09

at covered I don't have anything now

56:30

uh it's not to my knowledge the school

56:32

building itself may be listed on the

56:35

national register but the property is

56:37

not on any um municipal or national or

56:40

nationally eligible historic

56:54

districts good thank you

57:11

okay

57:33

conditions y the conditions of the

57:37

planning

57:42

second

57:45

I thank you all right so

57:51

2592 is 1701 North 6th Street

57:56

so we got B1 proof of publication B2

57:59

letter from the planning director to the

58:01

applicant B3 hearing notice posted on

58:04

the property B4 applicant notification

58:07

letters to neighbors

58:08

B5 application with attached plans

58:12

photos B6 D to the property B7 planning

58:16

Bureau case report B8 is the city of

58:19

Harrisburg Planning Commission

58:21

resolution B1 through

58:24

B8 uh yes so case

58:26

2592 um is again a proposal by the uh

58:31

Harrisburg School District uh to install

58:34

signage uh requiring uh three different

58:37

variances uh now this signage is a

58:39

little bit different from the last one

58:41

uh in that it's uh three wall signs uh

58:44

being proposed um and that's probably

58:47

necessitated by the fact there is no

58:49

front yard uh in which to install any

58:50

freestanding signs um and uh the three

58:55

variances are are for more signs than

58:57

permitted by right and that's three uh

58:59

signs proposed versus one permitted by

59:01

right uh signs larger than permitted by

59:03

right um and that's 88.7 squ ft 103.6 ft

59:07

and 105 Square ft and the by signage

59:10

area is 10 Square F feet and internally

59:12

illuminated signs um so this uh proposal

59:15

is for the Hamilton school um and um as

59:20

you're probably aware uh having driven

59:22

by it um there's very minimal signage

59:25

existing there's like very small kind of

59:27

light box sign I'm not even sure if the

59:28

internal illumination works or not and

59:31

then they have a few uh two projecting

59:32

banners on either side of the um Central

59:35

Courtyard uh that provides access to the

59:38

building um and as the applicants have

59:41

uh noted in their testimony for the last

59:43

case uh their uh intent is really to

59:45

standardize their signage across all of

59:47

their facilities um and to you know have

59:50

The Branding of the of the cougar uh

59:52

Academy branding um on their buildings

59:55

uh and then the the electronically

59:56

changing sign allows them to provide uh

59:59

you know information uh to the public um

1:00:02

in uh kind of a differentiation from the

1:00:06

last uh application uh the surrounding

1:00:09

context is of this property is very

1:00:11

different um there are a couple of I

1:00:13

believe vacant buildings directly across

1:00:15

the street and otherwise um surrounding

1:00:18

blocks are are largely vacant um there's

1:00:20

obviously been some recent institutional

1:00:23

developments along the Sixth Street

1:00:24

Corridor um both the uh PA state

1:00:27

archives and the federal courthouse um

1:00:30

and you know they all have um fairly

1:00:34

expansive signage or at least the the

1:00:36

archives does um that you know would not

1:00:39

conform to the zoning code nor would

1:00:41

they have to as as being the federal

1:00:43

government the state government um and

1:00:45

so uh the proposed signage I think will

1:00:47

be in keeping from a size perspective

1:00:50

with other uh properties um in the

1:00:54

corridor uh additionally as the corridor

1:00:58

is developed into the future and there

1:00:59

have already been uh some projects um

1:01:03

both uh proposed approved and uh pending

1:01:07

uh for uh for the Sixth Street Corridor

1:01:10

uh the need for uh more prominent

1:01:12

conspicuous signage advertising the

1:01:15

property and identifying the property

1:01:17

and then conveying information to uh to

1:01:19

drivers um or to people um traveling

1:01:22

down the corridor uh will be made

1:01:24

necessary uh so with that being said the

1:01:27

Planning Commission is recommending that

1:01:29

the zoning hearing board approve the

1:01:31

request with the following conditions

1:01:33

any electronic messages displayed on the

1:01:35

proposed sign will conform to the

1:01:36

regulations in section 7- 32511 of the

1:01:39

zoning code regarding light and glare

1:01:41

and prohibited electronically changing

1:01:43

messages the Planning Commission uh is

1:01:45

recommending the zoning hearing board

1:01:46

approve the request for the following

1:01:48

reasons uh given a lack of any existing

1:01:50

signage on site is reasonable to install

1:01:53

signage larger more numerous and more

1:01:54

conspicuous to identify the site and

1:01:56

communicate with the public uh the

1:01:59

context of the installation site with

1:02:00

the wall signs facing vacant lots and

1:02:02

buildings mitigates potential impacts on

1:02:05

the surrounding Community due to the

1:02:06

internal illumination and finally the

1:02:09

property currently features Obsolete and

1:02:11

insufficient signage for the school

1:02:12

district to convey information to the

1:02:13

general public parents and children the

1:02:16

proposed sign will be able to convey

1:02:17

more information about educational and

1:02:18

Community programs activities and

1:02:20

services and enhance the and enhanced

1:02:23

communication between the school

1:02:24

district and the general

1:02:29

public I have nothing further to that it

1:02:32

was a good

1:02:38

summary is that a real simple question

1:02:41

so with the three signs um I I know the

1:02:43

one is with the push through letters so

1:02:45

the cloud sign just means it's just the

1:02:48

graphic of the sign just that's

1:02:50

illuminated okay all right thank you

1:03:09

no we we were just planning on Sixth

1:03:11

Street as the the Main Street to get the

1:03:13

communication that way out front

1:03:37

might want to do

1:03:39

that the public

1:04:04

right the conditions with the Planning

1:04:06

Commission

1:04:08

y

1:04:15

second

1:04:17

I thank you okay so now 25

1:04:22

93601 State Street

1:04:26

uh exhibits in think B1 proof of

1:04:28

publication B2 letter sent from planning

1:04:31

director to applicant B3 hearing notice

1:04:33

posted on a property B4 applicants

1:04:37

notification letters to neighbors B5

1:04:39

application with attachments the plans

1:04:41

and photos B6 D to the property B7

1:04:46

planning Bureau case report and B8 city

1:04:48

of Harrisburg Planning Commission

1:04:51

resolution okay uh case number 2593

1:04:56

uh so this proposal is um a bit more uh

1:05:00

intensive than uh even the last proposal

1:05:03

um in this case the applicant is

1:05:05

proposing to install uh five new

1:05:07

internally illuminated wall signs uh

1:05:09

which requires uh relief from three

1:05:12

aspects of the signs regulations

1:05:13

regarding number size and elimination uh

1:05:16

proposal requires approval of variances

1:05:18

for more signs than permitted by right

1:05:20

and that's five proposed versus one

1:05:22

permitted by right uh signs larger than

1:05:24

permitted by right um that's 26.5 Square

1:05:27

ft 72.3 Square ft 132.0 ft and two at 36

1:05:33

squ fet uh when the permitted signage

1:05:35

area is 10 Square F feet and internally

1:05:37

illuminated signs uh so this proposal is

1:05:40

um similar to the last one in that both

1:05:44

are uh uh buildings that occupy the

1:05:46

entirety of a block um and so it has

1:05:50

frontages on um multiple rights Subway

1:05:53

um however compared and contrasted to uh

1:05:56

the um case number

1:06:00

2592 uh the applicants in this case are

1:06:03

uh proposing were originally proposing

1:06:06

uh electronic electronically changing

1:06:08

message signs on both uh the North 17th

1:06:11

Street Frontage and the State Street

1:06:13

Frontage and then three different signs

1:06:16

uh advertising the school and the cougar

1:06:18

Academy um in addition to those two uh

1:06:23

the context of the is a little bit

1:06:26

different than a normal building pH or

1:06:28

than a normal sign it's not like a front

1:06:30

yard that's going to be accommoda a

1:06:31

freestanding sign it's kind of a cutout

1:06:33

Notch of the building there um and so

1:06:36

the I think signage um U platforms and

1:06:40

stuff will be a little bit different it

1:06:42

won't just be affixed I think directly

1:06:43

to the wall it'll in fact one of their

1:06:45

signs is like a threedimensional sign so

1:06:47

that'll kind of be coming out and have a

1:06:48

framework behind it um but uh while the

1:06:52

appointing Bureau was supportive of

1:06:55

pretty much all the signs we felt that

1:06:57

only one electronically changing sign

1:06:59

was necessary um for the site um if

1:07:02

that's you know our kind of reasoning

1:07:05

was if it's good enough for the other s

1:07:06

the other school district sites it's uh

1:07:09

sufficient for this site um additionally

1:07:12

uh we were supportive of the other uh

1:07:15

size and design of the other signage

1:07:16

that they're proposing so the issue of

1:07:18

identification uh wouldn't be changed it

1:07:20

would be more of an issue of just

1:07:21

conveyance of information to the to the

1:07:24

general public uh and during the

1:07:25

Planning Commission um uh review the

1:07:28

applicants had um expressed uh uh

1:07:31

concurrence with um the planning

1:07:34

bureau's uh recommendation um but that

1:07:37

still shows up here as a condition uh so

1:07:39

with that being said uh the Zone uh

1:07:42

Planning Commission is recommending that

1:07:43

zon hearing board approve the request

1:07:45

with the following conditions uh any

1:07:47

electronic messages displayed on the

1:07:48

proposed sign will conformed to the

1:07:49

regulations in section 7-325 point11 of

1:07:53

the zoning code regarding light and GL

1:07:55

air and prohibited electronically

1:07:56

changing messages the applicant will

1:07:59

only install one of the proposed

1:08:00

electronic message center boards uh the

1:08:02

planet Bureau notes that the proposed

1:08:04

signage uh significantly exceeds the

1:08:06

allowances for permitted signage in the

1:08:08

ins district and and that there is no

1:08:11

justification for two such signs and

1:08:13

that the signage proposal for a similar

1:08:14

Corner property on a major route at 1701

1:08:16

nor6 Street and again that was case

1:08:18

2592 uh only includes one such sign uh

1:08:22

the Planning Commission uh recommends

1:08:23

the zoning her board to approve the

1:08:24

request for the following reasons given

1:08:26

the lack of any existing signage on site

1:08:28

and the recent establishment or

1:08:30

expansion of an educational campus not

1:08:32

just offices uh so the school district

1:08:34

did move their offices out of that

1:08:35

building um to their new facility on 7th

1:08:37

Street uh it is reasonable to install

1:08:40

signage larger more numerous and more

1:08:41

conspicuous to identify the site and

1:08:43

communicate with the public uh the

1:08:45

context of the installation site with

1:08:47

the wall signs facing a church and a

1:08:49

former charter school and the nearest

1:08:51

resident sitting approximately 200 ft

1:08:52

away diagonally across a large

1:08:54

intersection mitigates potential impacts

1:08:56

on the surrounding Community due to the

1:08:58

internal illumination and finally the

1:09:01

property currently features no exterior

1:09:02

signage which allows the school district

1:09:04

to convey information to the general

1:09:05

public parents and children the post

1:09:07

sign will be able to convey more

1:09:09

information about educational Community

1:09:10

programs activities and services and

1:09:13

enhanced communication between the

1:09:14

school district and the general

1:09:19

public uh really nothing not much

1:09:21

further to add however we did change the

1:09:23

design and now it is there is electron

1:09:31

sign

1:09:38

correct yeah I just trying to make sure

1:09:40

I understood I'm looking at the RPM uh

1:09:43

layouts uh showing the different signs

1:09:46

so it's there's five signs correct there

1:09:49

are five proposed um but we're

1:09:52

recommending that they only have one of

1:09:53

the message board signs instead of

1:09:57

two okay so these

1:10:03

other okay so I just consider one okay

1:10:05

got you okay that was the only question

1:10:08

I had thank you

1:10:39

anybody

1:11:13

second all

1:11:16

right thank you

1:11:38

yep

1:11:49

okay okay so we have right application

1:11:53

2594 26 2 North

1:11:57

Street and the exhibits are B1 proof of

1:12:01

publication Patriot

1:12:02

News November 3rd November 10th 2024 B2

1:12:06

is a letter uh sent from the planning

1:12:08

director to applicant notifying of the

1:12:10

hearing B3 is a hearing notice posted on

1:12:13

the property B4 applicants notification

1:12:15

letters to the neighbors B5 application

1:12:19

with photos of the interior of the

1:12:20

property and the plans for the proposal

1:12:23

B6 is a d to the property

1:12:25

establishing standing B7 planning Bureau

1:12:28

case report B8 is the city of Harrisburg

1:12:31

Planning Commission resolution so we got

1:12:33

B1 through

1:12:41

B8 yes uh so for case number

1:12:45

2594 uh the applicant is proposing to

1:12:47

expand the existing three unit multif

1:12:50

family dwelling through the

1:12:51

establishment of a fourth unit in the

1:12:52

basement uh because the property is

1:12:54

legal non-conforming with respect to the

1:12:56

density a special exception is required

1:12:58

to expand this non-conforming aspect per

1:13:00

section 7-

1:13:02

[Music]

1:13:05

321.com neighborhood zoning District uh

1:13:08

which requires 1,200 sare feet of lot

1:13:10

area per dwelling unit and the uh lot is

1:13:13

actually 111 square feet short of um

1:13:16

doing a bught accommodation of the three

1:13:19

units uh so um it's legally

1:13:22

non-conforming with respect to the

1:13:23

density and because this proposal

1:13:25

um uh or this project proposes to expand

1:13:28

the density um uh non-conformity it

1:13:31

requires a special exception uh had the

1:13:34

structure been um conforming with

1:13:37

respect to the density I think they

1:13:39

would have required a variance and I

1:13:40

think the applicant would have had a

1:13:41

harder uh case to make um for getting a

1:13:45

proposal uh or getting a fourth unit in

1:13:47

the basement uh permitted by right um

1:13:51

however because it is a special

1:13:52

exception that obviously changes in the

1:13:53

criteria and the um standard of proof

1:13:56

that the applicant needs to meet um to

1:13:59

receive approval from the zoning hearing

1:14:01

board uh the property is located um on

1:14:05

the 200 block of North 6 Street besides

1:14:07

mqu um right down the street from um

1:14:10

Elementary uh coffee uh if you're

1:14:12

familiar with uh the property there's

1:14:14

also um a surface parking lot in the

1:14:17

back of this um R buildings and that

1:14:19

surface parking lot is actually on um

1:14:22

part of this property so uh it's both

1:14:24

this row house and the the lot behind it

1:14:27

um and at the uh November 6th Planning

1:14:31

Commission uh meeting uh they testified

1:14:33

that they did have um two um unassigned

1:14:37

spaces uh within that lot uh to

1:14:39

accommodate um the uh any parking needs

1:14:43

from a future tenant of this space uh I

1:14:45

believe they noted that two of the three

1:14:47

um units are occupied by tenants that do

1:14:49

not have vehicles um so there's no

1:14:52

guarantee that a future tenant would

1:14:54

even have a vehicle

1:14:55

um but uh that being said um you know

1:15:00

there's a variety of different uses uh

1:15:03

in the surrounding neighborhood and in

1:15:04

fact a variety of different uh multi

1:15:06

family dwelling um uh buildings um right

1:15:10

across the street I believe there's

1:15:11

eight nine in some of those buildings

1:15:13

and then there's single family row homes

1:15:15

directly adjacent to this property so uh

1:15:18

there are a variety abuses and a variety

1:15:20

intenses of of intensities of

1:15:22

residential development uh in the

1:15:23

neighborhood um um so the proposed uh

1:15:26

installation of a um basement unit um so

1:15:30

long as it's code compliant U building

1:15:32

code compliant should be uh have a

1:15:34

negligible impact on the neighborhood uh

1:15:37

with that being said the Planning

1:15:38

Commission uh recommends the zoning

1:15:40

hearing board approve the request for

1:15:41

the following reasons uh the applicant

1:15:43

must coordinate with the codes Bureau on

1:15:45

any building code requirements such as

1:15:47

sprinkling the basement unit or

1:15:48

providing two code compliant exterior

1:15:50

egresses uh so there is one egress out

1:15:53

the back and I believe the applicants

1:15:55

have indicated their intention to

1:15:56

install a second one like a window well

1:15:59

kind of crawl out from the basement um

1:16:01

if not they could still meet the

1:16:03

building code requirements by sprinkling

1:16:05

uh the basement space if necessary um

1:16:08

and then any proposed exterior

1:16:09

alterations must be submitted to the

1:16:11

planning Bureau for review to ascertain

1:16:12

whether they require harb approval of a

1:16:14

certificate of appropriateness

1:16:16

application uh the Planning Commission

1:16:18

recommends that the zoning hearing board

1:16:19

approved the request for the following

1:16:20

reasons the pl Bureau notes that if the

1:16:22

property were slightly larger the

1:16:23

proposal would require HB approval of a

1:16:25

variance request and that it is unlikely

1:16:27

such a request would be justifiable

1:16:29

however because the existing three unit

1:16:31

configuration is legally non-conforming

1:16:33

the establishment of additional unit

1:16:34

only requires a special exception and uh

1:16:37

because the neighborhood features a

1:16:38

variety of uses including commercial

1:16:40

institutional and the residential units

1:16:42

and residential units of varying

1:16:43

intensity the proposed additional unit

1:16:45

will likely have a negligible impact on

1:16:47

the community

1:16:54

here my name is Conrad Rudy I'm a

1:16:56

partner with seven real estate owner of

1:16:58

the north 262 North uh address is 2939

1:17:02

Maple Road Camp Pennsylvania

1:17:09

71 I

1:17:12

do um so this project was uh born out of

1:17:17

viewing what we saw as just wasted space

1:17:20

um the the basement currently which is

1:17:23

halfway above ground um and has a walk

1:17:25

out basement or a walk out eress in the

1:17:29

back of the property uh is currently

1:17:31

being used for storage and when we walk

1:17:33

through it with the high ceilings that

1:17:35

were available we thought um this is an

1:17:37

opportunity for us to create some uh

1:17:40

affordable and safe

1:17:43

housing um that combined with the uh

1:17:46

parking lot that's attached to the the

1:17:48

property we didn't see any NE negligible

1:17:53

impact in the neighborhood

1:17:55

um we talked to all the neighbors the

1:17:58

adjacent neighbors um personally and uh

1:18:01

they they seem to support the the

1:18:03

project um and if there is any more

1:18:05

concern about the uh the parking there

1:18:09

is also a 24 space parking lot on brid

1:18:12

street that that we share a property

1:18:15

manager with made arrangements if

1:18:17

necessary to

1:18:26

yeah I just had a a general question um

1:18:28

I know you did mention with the uh

1:18:30

development of the unit that there would

1:18:32

be some type of I guess additional I

1:18:34

guess exit point for the the property I

1:18:36

was just wondering are there any other I

1:18:39

guess restrictions um for units that are

1:18:42

considered to be in the basement as

1:18:44

opposed to the above ground um you know

1:18:48

nothing I'm familiar with I'm sure there

1:18:51

are some other building code uh

1:18:53

considerations um otherwise I think it's

1:18:57

probably a personal preference that

1:18:58

whether somebody would choose to live

1:19:00

there or not and uh you know I think um

1:19:02

this is a case of every additional unit

1:19:05

in the city helps uh to to meet uh the

1:19:08

needs and and to provide options to

1:19:10

somebody because this is likely you know

1:19:13

going to be priced considerably cheaper

1:19:15

than the fifth floor of a you know

1:19:18

converted office building for example so

1:19:19

it gives people opportunities to to find

1:19:22

something uh within the community to

1:19:23

continue living

1:19:25

thank

1:19:41

you we're we're looking for fair market

1:19:43

value which is going to be sub 1,000 so

1:19:45

it's 8 to 900 um whatever the market

1:19:48

pairs at that

1:19:56

certain

1:20:05

absolutely

1:20:11

yeah uh what they've they've already

1:20:13

been doing work on the project uh that

1:20:14

we've approved and and for the most part

1:20:17

um all their work is in kind uh

1:20:19

Replacements or um either minimally

1:20:22

visible or not visible from the public

1:20:23

right away for the of some HVAC units um

1:20:27

but if they're proposing I mean the most

1:20:30

conspicuous part of the property is the

1:20:32

front property along North Street I

1:20:33

don't anticipate there being any changes

1:20:35

there that wouldn't be where um any new

1:20:37

egress point from the basement would be

1:20:39

they have kind of a light well in the

1:20:41

back of the building where they'd be

1:20:42

able to install that and that's probably

1:20:45

the extent of the of the major exterior

1:20:48

changes be something like

1:20:52

that uh yeah so uh

1:20:55

with regard to um least the deed that

1:21:00

was provided list a Titania real estate

1:21:03

what is your connection with them that's

1:21:06

a uh that's an LLC that belongs to seven

1:21:09

the the partner group okay so that it's

1:21:13

it's part of the seven it's it's owned

1:21:15

by seven it's owned by seven that's what

1:21:17

I okay

1:21:45

MH yeah yep

1:22:23

m

1:22:53

e

1:23:23

e

1:23:53

e

1:24:23

e

1:24:53

e

1:25:23

e

1:25:53

e

1:26:23

e

1:26:53

e

1:27:23

e

1:27:53

e

1:28:23

e

1:28:53

e

1:29:23

e

1:29:53

e

1:30:22

e

1:30:52

e

1:31:22

e e

1:32:23

yes I would like to make a motion uh to

1:32:26

accept application

1:32:28

2594 um with the conditions set forth by

1:32:31

the Planning

1:32:43

Commission

1:32:47

I all

1:32:49

right announc will be our

1:32:52

last hopefully

1:32:55

definitely

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