Board approves expansion of multifamily units at 1332 North Second Street but denies request to commercialize excess parking

The Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board on Oct. 20 granted a special exception to expand an existing nonconforming multifamily dwelling at 1332 North Second Street and denied a related variance that would have allowed commercial leasing of excess off-street parking spaces at 1332–1336 North Second Street and 122 Calder Street.

Planning Director Jeffrey Knight summarized the proposal: the applicant proposes to convert the former funeral home on the ground floor into additional dwelling units, bringing the site’s total from five existing units to 13 (the applicant’s materials referenced 13–16 units in different places; the applicant indicated 13 units are proposed). Knight reported that the property already has 46 off-street parking spaces across the main lot (35) and the Calder Street lot (11). The zoning ordinance’s multifamily parking requirement would be 16 spaces for the proposed number of units, leaving about 30 spaces unused if the residential conversion proceeds as proposed.

Phil Petrina, attorney for Brennaman Properties, and Michael White, owner’s representative, said the applicant intends to convert the first-floor space into eight new apartments and manage the combined lots to provide secured parking for residents. White said the company plans to have Midtown Property Management operate and maintain the lots and to implement placards, monitored cameras and access control to limit unauthorized use.

Neighbors who spoke at the hearing identified concerns about existing lot conditions (sinkholes, sidewalk bollards, refuse and pests) and asked about commitments to site repairs, refuse collection and long-term management. The applicant said it planned site investments, sidewalk reconstruction and additional maintenance under management by Midtown Property Management and that current leased Calder Street spaces would be honored.

After public comment and board questions, a member moved to grant the special exception to permit the additional multifamily units subject to the planning commission conditions, including requiring a land-development plan, historic-preservation review for exterior changes, removal of sidewalk bollards and a plan to control and access the lots. The board also voted to deny the variance request to permit commercial leasing of the additional parking spaces. The chair announced the board will issue a written decision within 45 days.