[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6148577,"mediaKeyId","5515100-56f4ef84f1b186811dd0c776db9a4d1f","parentId",5515100,"title","Zoning board approves short‑term rental at 51 Locust Street with conditions","audioSeconds",1646,"startMs",4861000,"endMs",6507000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5515100-56f4ef84f1b186811dd0c776db9a4d1f&start=4861&end=6507","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5515100-56f4ef84f1b186811dd0c776db9a4d1f/thumbnail_4861000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6148577/Columbia/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Zoning-board-approves-shortterm-rental-at-51-Locust-Street-with-conditions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6148577-6a87f901845f68e26f009c81bd72400a/orig.mp4?Expires=1772405095&Signature=XYiiEHKu08JNwFiEaUXujnPVDLsUQP7bjvwaTmK2htaNcMc9I6QXHnJr94o~tVDrhj22pHWUEW3JTF~UcPjlpBULi5V-PX4LIo0TMMt7T5~hCUEGf15lG~Wpab6OylGP6lzIKHgAYUfNpQ501GRvm7MRm-LTzhIXPDzIomj5yD71xVd3KjHewdweu~h0RrbK3M2mY-n9dy9X-V~TH5S~ia2Ps4w0sRW19dWhU3ihynazEif4Qyse7I1uynjqpjzpzBomWkbs9o7n3p9KPR-c1DhtOobUMfwNXzmPIti1lJ5NwHY66qArr~I47U0Xrwyi8eQgQJDG2ASMpHKTiRG0FQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Columbia Borough, PA","date","2025-07-31T11:18:47.957Z","article","The Columbia Borough Zoning Hearing Board voted to approve an application by Chantelle Wilchcomb to operate a short-term rental at 51 Locust Street, an attached structure, subject to conditions the board read into the record. The board's approval included specific conditions on historic integrity, participation in local historic tours on request, adherence to the representations in the application letter, compliance with the borough's rental-registration and inspection requirements, and reimbursement of one-half of the court reporter fee.

Applicant Chantelle Wilchcomb said she and her husband recently purchased the home and planned to use it intermittently for family stays and otherwise rent it as a short-term rental. \"The maximum would be 6\" guests, she told the board when asked about occupancy limits, and she said the property manager would act as the local contact. Property manager Karen Travers testified about property-management practices and said the firm manages about 30 properties; when asked how quickly she could respond to problems, she said roughly 30–35 minutes depending on location.

The solicitor recited the borough's short-term rental rules in section 220-30(a)(48) and confirmed the applicant requested a variance to allow the use in an attached structure and that the property provides two off-street parking spaces. The board's imposed conditions include: maintaining historic exterior integrity, considering participation in the borough's historic tours, complying with the written representations submitted with the application, complying with the borough's rental registration and inspection program and ensuring the property is cleaned, inspected, and supplied with required materials after each occupancy.

Before voting, the solicitor and board clarified operational conditions that the applicant agreed to on the record: occupancy limits, no parties or events, no recreational-vehicle occupancy, posting of owner/manager contact information and local emergency contacts, installation of a knockbox with keys, and a requirement to email or fax occupancy lists to the borough prior to each stay.

After deliberation in executive session, the board returned to the public meeting, read the conditions aloud and approved the application by roll call. The solicitor reminded the applicant conditions are binding on current and successor owners and enforceable as zoning conditions. The board also required payment of one-half of the court reporter's appearance fee in accordance with the Municipalities Planning Code.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Zoning Hearing Board Meeting 07.30.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Columbia Borough Zoning Hearing Board granted a variance and approved a special exception allowing a short-term rental in an attached structure at 51 Locust Street, subject to conditions including maintaining historic exterior integrity, complying with testimony and registration and reimbursing half the court reporter fee.","taxTitle","Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania","taxId",71545,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6148581,"Zoning board denies conversion of 27 South Fifth Street to additional dwelling unit",2165,2654000,4819000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5515100-56f4ef84f1b186811dd0c776db9a4d1f&start=2654&end=4819","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5515100-56f4ef84f1b186811dd0c776db9a4d1f/thumbnail_2654000.jpg","/articles/6148581/Columbia/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Zoning-board-denies-conversion-of-27-South-Fifth-Street-to-additional-dwelling-unit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6148581-d0cc4b2f0bd0f00cef3b692ba218a375/orig.mp4?Expires=1772405095&Signature=nUblpvyCuL9KXcEilrTQenHlYVT1lp7T5ZV3cU9rxPZ2xZSsNdgJoB6kssgckLxEkbvn2czuOv53Edvl5gydAvYrGKvisY-upKIQnmz2bHgEqzAPF9uu3b7oCGNkfidFsw8JwOD~b9bUTzRO~euV8324UJKh8Ep-Pcgcf5JsSLpQ8HIrQD7cy6m8POVovpA9P-Nunulh924HzjwnlEM93Z2nesbEmK5~ZJv2rGXNhknN8LnQJZsMekO7k4SrM7aVdjkOe5BYlZQEWznqXqqPRlhILhAXYHyoJd176gohE2uglIdNh3p3yeWylcDBf-BC8pwIfA5I~YBm8Oj97rf-JA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Columbia Borough Zoning Hearing Board voted to deny an applicant's request to convert the first-floor commercial space at 27 South Fifth Street into a residential dwelling unit, finding the applicant failed to present sufficient evidence of compliance with zoning requirements, particularly off-street parking and other applicable standards.

Applicant John Reel testified he planned to convert the downstairs space, formerly a tattoo parlor, into a one-bedroom unit with a kitchen and bathroom. \"So the First Floor, we would like to turn it into 1 bedroom, kitchen, and a bathroom,\" Reel said when describing the proposed layout. He said the property currently has street parking only and estimated perhaps one on-street space directly outside the door; he told the board his preference would be a 1-bedroom unit if the board required a definitive choice.

Borough staff advised the board that converting the property to an additional rental unit would increase the borough's off-street parking requirement to four spaces (two off-street spaces per rental unit), and that 27 South Fifth Street lacks those off-street spaces. \"The zoning code for a rental property requires you to have 2 off-street parking spaces per rental unit... In this case, you would be having 2 rental units. Therefore, the zoning requires you to have 4 off-street parking spaces required,\" the borough manager explained.

Board members repeatedly pressed the applicant for specific evidence about the upstairs and downstairs floor plans, the number of bedrooms, square footage and the presence of adequate egress and escape windows. The applicant acknowledged some details were uncertain and said he would likely proceed with a one-bedroom layout if required. The borough emphasized that the applicant had the burden of proof to present testimony demonstrating compliance; the board found the evidence presented insufficient.

After testimony closed, a motion was made to deny the application for failure to present required evidence, including compliance with section 220-30(a)(14) (as cited in the motion). The motion was seconded, a roll call vote was taken, and the chair announced, \"Motion carries to deny.\" The written motion recorded that the application of John Reel for a special exception to convert the first floor into a dwelling unit was denied for failure to present evidence of compliance with applicable requirements.

The solicitor noted the board will issue a written decision consistent with the municipality's procedures and that parties retain appeal rights under state law. The denial applies solely to the application for 27 South Fifth Street as presented at this hearing.","The Columbia Borough Zoning Hearing Board denied John Reel's application to convert the first-floor commercial unit at 27 South Fifth Street into a dwelling unit, citing lack of evidence of compliance with applicable requirements including off-street parking.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6148586,"Zoning board denies request to open house of worship at 50 North Fourth Street",2035,561000,2596000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5515100-56f4ef84f1b186811dd0c776db9a4d1f&start=561&end=2596","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5515100-56f4ef84f1b186811dd0c776db9a4d1f/thumbnail_561000.jpg","/articles/6148586/Columbia/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Zoning-board-denies-request-to-open-house-of-worship-at-50-North-Fourth-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6148586-a0972662f6e611f79d7e13ecbad7e11d/orig.mp4?Expires=1772405095&Signature=o40q4IugzoZBOe2B5c1n0bQLYvdB0C3u6~iqQemsc6cOWT~ksf310upyaPP7yvcXFke3nRTeJovqLGLFt5BFU9ATf8nhhq0VCip9Jnr-8CvkA9M6jVqM24IfQZP2wnA8Qj6ZKYcAIbCvDwsp-B5qUk4WQ9a4KIXaMcnqSWfyK7omK~IJyw9oSkm3Tsxvai49rB0igBx8HooHBrHNRgOYP4GgL-TJFPRiG6nula-prVcvYDvLP1-b-5bFRMvPUn1rEdQ-O3x4x~5zl2eyxFFo3~hBVfPsVKSfH0ARahAnvb6TY9Th8w5iEpi0NYvm27HsuCQDKdOhilYXf4WEN~e5Bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbia Borough Zoning Hearing Board members on the record denied an application from applicant Anthony Mateo to use 50 North Fourth Street as a house of worship, finding the lot did not meet the zoning code's minimum lot-area and parking requirements. The board adopted a motion to deny a variance from section 220-30(a) and to deny the related special exception to establish a house of worship.

The applicant, Anthony Mateo, testified that he planned to use the first floor as a place of worship and that his congregation currently numbers about 15 people. \"We believe that we can be a great, a great help to Columbia and community,\" Mateo said while describing plans for Sunday services and occasional outreach. Mateo and Krista Mateo were listed as parties to the hearing.

Borough manager Steve Cawholt told the board that the property contains 6,970 square feet while the zoning ordinance requires 20,000 square feet for a house of worship under the cited section, and that parking requirements were not met. \"You have 6,970 square feet, and your requirement is 20,000 square feet,\" Cawholt said. He explained the code requires one parking space per five congregants and other parking counts tied to the boarding house above the proposed worship space, concluding the site would need about 15 parking spaces while the applicant had approximately four.

The board heard other testimony from a community member, Krista (spelled in the record), who described outreach work and plans for small-scale community events and visits to a local nursing home. The borough said council had voted 6–1 in opposition to the proposed location at a public meeting held the previous night, citing the same lot-size and parking concerns and noting there are vacant places of worship elsewhere in the borough.

After testimony closed, a board member moved to deny the request for a variance and to deny the special exception. The motion was seconded and, after roll call, the chair announced, \"Motion carries to deny.\" The written motion stated it denied the variance from section 220-30(a) requiring a minimum lot area of 20,000 square feet and, having denied that, denied the special exception under section 220-30(a)(30) to establish a house of worship on the first floor at 50 North Fourth Street.

The solicitor advised that the board must issue a written decision within 45 days of the close of testimony and that parties have standing and appeal rights under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. The chair recommended the applicant consult borough council or the borough manager to search for alternate properties.

The board took the matter into executive session for deliberation immediately after closing the record and announced the denial when it returned to the public meeting.

The denial does not itself preclude the applicant from seeking other properties or from pursuing approvals at another site; it addresses only the application for 50 North Fourth Street under the borough's zoning code.","The Columbia Borough Zoning Hearing Board denied an application from Anthony Mateo to establish a house of worship at 50 North Fourth Street after the borough showed the lot did not meet minimum lot-area and parking requirements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Zoning board approves short‑term rental at 51 Locust Street with conditions

Zoning board denies conversion of 27 South Fifth Street to additional dwelling unit

Zoning board denies request to open house of worship at 50 North Fourth Street