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Residents urge York City to tighten single‑family and rooming‑house rules after Springettsbury conversion
Summary
Speakers at the Oct. 21 York City Council meeting said a Springettsbury Avenue property was converted into multiple suites in violation of zoning; neighbors filed an appeal and a text amendment to clarify the city's single‑family and rooming‑house definitions consistent with Pennsylvania Supreme Court guidance.
Heather Leyendecker, speaking for the Springdale Neighborhood Association, told the York City Council on Oct. 21 that zoning officials had found a property at 101 East Springettsbury operating as multiple rental suites in violation of city code and that neighbors had filed both an appeal and a zoning text amendment to the city.
Leyendecker said the city issued a notice of violation on Aug. 14 and that a subsequent inspection showed the owner reduced the unit count from eight "suites" to three. She said the association filed an appeal to the zoning office decision on Sept. 22 and filed a text amendment with the city on Oct. 9 to add definitions consistent with recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court guidance. "And the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision defines single family as a single housekeeping unit," Leyendecker said.
The proposed amendment, Leyendecker said, would add a single‑family definition to the zoning ordinance, revise the rooming‑house definition to remove ambiguity, and preserve the low‑density, family‑focused character of the RS‑1 district in Springdale.
Craig Zumbran, a longtime York resident who identified himself as a former zoning officer, building official and director of permits, licenses and inspections, told council he supported stronger enforcement. "I implore that council takes a strong stand and require the owner of 101 South Springettsbury to return the property to its original condition as a single family house," Zumbran said, warning that a favorable decision for the owner could create a precedent that encourages similar conversions.
Council did not take action on the appeal or the text amendment at the Oct. 21 meeting. Leyendecker said the appeal remains pending and the text amendment was filed for council consideration; no hearing date was announced during the meeting.
Several speakers during the public‑comment period also raised related concerns about inspection and enforcement practices. Don Hake, a city resident, urged council to consider a moratorium on tenant‑occupied property inspections until the city confirms inspectors' legal authority, citing U.S. Supreme Court precedent on warrantless inspections.
The Springdale Neighborhood Association's filings and the pending appeal place the matter on the council's enforcement and zoning agenda going forward; council staff did not provide an immediate timeline for formal consideration of the text amendment.
The record for the public‑comment period shows neighbors pressing for clearer definitions and stricter enforcement to protect neighborhood character while the appeal process proceeds.
