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Council approves waiver for West Market Street site after debate over parking and 20‑year HUD deed restriction
Summary
Council approved a land‑development waiver for 462–464 West Market Street amid resident concerns about parking and future use; city and RDA staff said the project is funded with HUD HOME‑ARPA funds that carry a 20‑year affordability requirement.
The York City Council on Oct. 21 approved Resolution 72 granting a land‑development waiver for property at 462–464 West Market Street, following extended council discussion about neighborhood parking pressures and the long‑term use of the site.
A councilmember summarized residents' concerns about potential future use changes and parking: speakers at prior planning meetings worried the building could later be converted to student housing or other non‑senior uses, and noted the project proposes eight off‑street parking spaces for 15 units. Council members said repeated small variances for parking across the city have added pressure in residential neighborhoods.
Blandon Ace, chief opportunity development officer and executive director of the York Redevelopment Authority (RDA), said the RDA is transferring the property to the developer and that the project is funded with HUD HOME dollars provided under ARPA. "These HUD HOME ARPA dollars do have a 20 year requirement, that that development ... will actually be deeded in that way, that it can only be deed restricted for senior affordable living," Ace said, adding that HUD rules limit how proceeds or sales can be handled in the future.
Ace and staff acknowledged that strict parking standards could not be met because the lot's geometry would not accommodate the number of required spaces; he said the developer has begun discussions with adjacent property owners about leasing nearby spaces as a contingency. He and others argued that similar senior housing projects have low vehicle ownership and that the operator (identified as Hunter Group / RB Development) has managed comparable sites with low parking demand.
Council members asked whether the project would remain senior‑affordable in perpetuity; RDA staff said the HUD HOME‑ARPA funding creates restrictive deed and program requirements for at least 20 years, and that any sale or refinancing would be constrained by HUD rules that require funds to remain tied to the project.
Despite neighborhood concerns about parking and future use, council approved the waiver by roll call. The project team and city staff said they will return with implementation details and that the final use will be governed by the HUD funding restrictions and local permitting.
