[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6479250,"mediaKeyId","5701948-5522bb54a3a13cdb03c813ec332dab99","parentId",5701948,"title","Planning commission roundup: conditional approvals, reaffirmations and zoning recommendation from Aug. 26 meeting","audioSeconds",4943,"startMs",1481481,"endMs",6425425,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701948-5522bb54a3a13cdb03c813ec332dab99&start=1481&end=6425","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701948-5522bb54a3a13cdb03c813ec332dab99/thumbnail_1481481.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479250/Reading/Berks-County/Pennsylvania/Planning-commission-roundup-conditional-approvals-reaffirmations-and-zoning-recommendation-from-Aug-26-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479250-41e6a33f5420300eb180d11133b60afb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160350&Signature=XQ-8PF1BIwTTcIXJzCYKjhyVlmCdhQRqs~jEkwccGIDq8585b08sJ3s50x41OC04P9WqRgg6G5hq0Fybwyx~MVeBUUSgEsseNDHCDxZvVZjOd1tQHZZHdNWeWoRnuWzMkC8~Bz6ihBRwh4m4bucVD3WVJN-cc-CVz~uZH0q-Wzt3aOab~Q23yEzaOWRnp8mVXNuFxjSg33ixchqlYLfZ0zrCBVQb9e0EToHLbRx0eGQftej7rV2m4FG6v4r2-pYcyyZ-WNsE9e13OnSXZYWra804MSY3WnZhy47KHhmUpi36cRBAWBg7x9yWhgaxBSyR5RbuXTCC8q54ytc6OdWjFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Reading, PA","date","2025-08-29T15:58:01Z","article","At its Aug. 26 meeting the City of Reading Planning Commission approved a series of conditional land‑development actions, reaffirmations and policy recommendations that will affect multiple development projects across the city.

Key procedural outcomes included conditional approval for the KarTech Building 163 revised preliminary plan at 1001 Schuylkill Avenue; a revised phasing plan and conditional approval of Phase 1 of the 601 South Ninth Street parking‑and‑mixed‑use project with authorization to execute the municipal improvements agreement; conditional preliminary/final approval for the TMC annexation and land development plan at 743 Thorn Street contingent on council approval of a no‑parking ordinance and required historic‑district boundary actions; and conditional approval of the Reading Housing Authority’s Oak Brook Recreation Park land development plan at 1001 Scott Street, with a stormwater management maintenance agreement required.

The commission also granted a time extension and tabled the PSO Luzerne Street subdivision and land‑development plan (1420–1422 Luzerne Street) until Dec. 1 to allow a staff site visit and discussions about alley width, utility poles and EDU (equivalent dwelling unit) reservations. The commission reaffirmed prior approvals for the Berkshire Building plan, the Nineteenth Ward pump station revised preliminary/final plan and the 901 Spring Street McDonald’s land development plan, and it authorized municipal improvements and stormwater agreements where required.

On policy and redevelopment matters, the commission recommended that City Council adopt a zoning amendment regulating short‑term rentals and provided reuse recommendations to the Redevelopment Authority for three blighted properties: 228 Moss Street (recommended for conversion to multifamily residential) and 645 Locust Street and 311 Hollenbach Street (recommended for single‑family residential reuse). The commission also voted to provide a letter of support to the Borough of West Reading for a Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development grant to rehabilitate the Playground Drive trail system, with the condition that the trail design maintain access for City of Reading Public Works maintenance vehicles and preserve existing access easements.

A public presentation by the Berks County Industrial Development Authority outlined the agency’s acquisition of the former Glidden site and coordination with the developer proposing a Third Street shopping center; the IDA described environmental review and state buy‑sell processes required for redevelopment of contaminated industrial land and said HDR is reviewing cleanup and engineering plans.

Several motions were recorded as conditional approvals pending resolution of technical review letters from Hawk Valley Associates and other staff reports dated in August 2025. Where necessary, the commission authorized the chairman to execute municipal improvements agreements and stormwater maintenance agreements to allow projects to proceed into construction once conditions are met.

Votes at a glance

- KarTech Building 163 (1001 Schuylkill Ave): conditional revised preliminary approval subject to Hawk Valley Associates review letter dated 08/23/2025; outcome: approved (conditional).

- 601 South Ninth Street (phase 1): commission approved revised phasing and granted conditional approval of Phase 1 final plan subject to resolving issues in Hawk Valley Associates review letter dated 08/25/2025; commission authorized chairman to execute municipal improvements agreement; outcome: approved (conditional).

- TMC annexation and land development (743 Thorn Street): conditional preliminary/final approval subject to council adopting a no‑parking ordinance for Thorn Street and to historic‑district boundary approvals (HARB or council), and to resolving Hawk Valley Associates review letter dated 07/18/2025; commission also authorized execution of municipal improvements and stormwater maintenance agreements; outcome: approved (conditional).

- Reading Housing Authority Oak Brook Recreation Park (1001 Scott Street): conditional preliminary/final approval subject to resolving Hawk Valley Associates review letter dated 08/21/2025; stormwater management maintenance agreement required; outcome: approved (conditional).

- PSO Luzerne Street subdivision (1414–1422 Luzerne Street): planning commission accepted applicant’s request for a time extension to Dec. 1 for review and tabled the plan; outcome: time extension granted and plan tabled.

- Ninth Ward pump station (Stonecliff Park): reaffirmation of previous approval (10/22/2024) with conditions; outcome: reaffirmed.

- Berkshire Building plan, McDonald’s (901 Spring Street): reaffirmations of prior approvals (dates noted in meeting); outcome: reaffirmed.

- Redevelopment Authority reuse recommendations: 228 Moss St to multifamily; 645 Locust St and 311 Hollenbach St to single‑family reuse — commission recommended moving forward; outcome: recommended to Redevelopment Authority.

- West Reading Playground Drive trail: letter of support for DCED GCED grant with condition to maintain Public Works vehicle access and access easement; outcome: approved.

- Zoning amendment for short‑term rentals: commission recommended City Council adoption; outcome: recommended.

Several items will return for final action after the applicants provide signed municipal agreements, updated plan sheets, permits (including PennDOT HOPs where applicable) and any required HARB or council approvals for parking and historic‑district boundary changes. The commission frequently accepted conditional approvals that permit applicants to pursue procurement and bidding while outstanding technical items are resolved.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission Meeting - August 26, 2025 Minutes","oneSentenceSummary","The Planning Commission approved several conditional preliminary and final plans, reaffirmed prior approvals and recommended a zoning amendment to regulate short‑term rentals. The commission also approved time extensions and sent reuse recommendations to the Redevelopment Authority.","taxTitle","Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2971,"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},6479253,"Planning commission grants waiver, gives conditional preliminary approval to Redding Parking Authority lot at 905 Green Street",1329,158135,1487785,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701948-5522bb54a3a13cdb03c813ec332dab99&start=158&end=1487","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701948-5522bb54a3a13cdb03c813ec332dab99/thumbnail_158135.jpg","/articles/6479253/Reading/Berks-County/Pennsylvania/Planning-commission-grants-waiver-gives-conditional-preliminary-approval-to-Redding-Parking-Authority-lot-at-905-Green-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479253-cce5fcf4933d153cc6e90544f58760a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160350&Signature=aVZuTwjreAemQ6b1l0AV37PVcaTMVHGJSi9BxHbjX4HQbcu4mbQal9qGRvYAAYZgfjS3bXQr4GhDjbagGyf6CQ3YrugMxnPPybLEPU3Gb9zSxyQXxV-SpEenuvbK19xB0RgxkUsvnwpaKLJZ2bHhWI8WexMhcL8Uyb~~gWkco~TzMr8IzE0Xhm-MLP3KbtKpfg0-t4T5i3BI-eDkp2Qd1FfCAsjCkbgf15yS6Ve6QjihUupp4WVMTTVl3pExh8GEBggVdmfrzgeY20Xpl1colaf~0ueqHTx3Kw-MTFMrrn-NdOcVyodQZ5Vhw8qt7WaURgngHz7fNu5w8JvshDlDBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Reading Planning Commission on Aug. 26 granted a waiver to reduce the required 75‑foot clear sight triangle and gave conditional preliminary approval to the Redding Parking Authority’s annexation and land development plan for a parking lot at 905 Green Street.

The preliminary/final application covers seven parcels to be annexed and consolidated into a single 13,585‑square‑foot site that will provide 35 parking spaces owned and operated by the Redding Parking Authority. The planning consultant and Public Works raised technical issues the applicant must resolve before final approval, including sanitary lateral abandonments, an approved PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) for curb work on North Ninth Street, and municipal improvements and stormwater agreements.

Planning consultant Jerome Greencastle summarized the submittal and outstanding requirements and recommended the applicant can address the remaining technical comments. Public Works staff flagged multiple former residential sanitary laterals under the consolidated lots and said those laterals must be investigated and either capped behind the curb or sealed at the main depending on condition. Public Works also noted a new no‑parking zone would be required on Green Street to preserve driveway sight distance and asked the applicant to supply a simplified exhibit the city can use with a council ordinance.

An applicant representative said the Berks County Conservation District letter of adequacy for erosion and sediment control was already issued in May, that they can address the technical comments, that they will remove a southern parking space where full turning movements cannot be achieved, and that they have started the PennDOT HOP process.

After discussion of options — tabling the combined preliminary/final plan, granting conditional approval, or splitting the application into preliminary then final — the commission voted to split the application and approve the submission as a conditional preliminary plan. The motion included a requirement that the applicant resolve the issues listed in Hawk Valley Associates' review letter dated Aug. 22, 2025. Commissioners also authorized the applicant to request a 90‑day time extension for plan review to allow Public Works’ investigation of buried sanitary laterals; commissioners noted the HOP itself may take six to nine months but said the sanitary investigation could be completed in weeks.

The commission earlier granted the waiver from the clear sight triangle requirement after the consultant presented sight‑distance illustrations and Public Works signaled support.

The commission and staff listed next steps: the applicant must provide the conservation‑district adequacy letter (if not already on file), complete the sanitary lateral investigation and note any required capping on the plans, pursue the PennDOT HOP with the city acting as applicant and the project team acting as agent, provide municipal improvements and stormwater maintenance agreements, and submit the simplified no‑parking exhibit for council ordinance if needed. The commission recorded its conditional preliminary approval so the authority may begin bidding work while outstanding items are resolved prior to final plan approval.

The commission’s action was procedural and conditional; the transcript records that approval is subject to resolving the technical comments cited in Hawk Valley Associates’ Aug. 22, 2025 review letter and to obtaining required outside permits and agreements.","The Planning Commission granted a waiver to the Redding Parking Authority for a reduced clear‑sight triangle and gave conditional preliminary approval of a consolidated parking‑lot plan at 905 Green Street, subject to technical corrections, sanitary lateral investigation and receipt of required permits and agreements.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning commission roundup: conditional approvals, reaffirmations and zoning recommendation from Aug. 26 meeting

Planning commission grants waiver, gives conditional preliminary approval to Redding Parking Authority lot at 905 Green Street