Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Harrisburg zoning board grants parking relief for North Sixth Street convenience store redevelopment
Summary
The Zoning Hearing Board approved a special exception allowing a larger convenience store at 2017 North Sixth Street to provide fewer on-site parking spaces than required, subject to planning bureau conditions including curb-cut adjustments, landscaping and signage compliance.
The Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board on Oct. 20 approved a special-exception request that lets a proposed redevelopment of the convenience store and fueling station at 2017 North Sixth Street provide fewer off-street parking spaces than the zoning code requires.
Planning Director Jeffrey Knight told the board the project would replace an aging convenience-store structure and a gravel lot with a new 4,320-square-foot store, demolish the existing building and reconfigure internal drives. Knight said the city’s case report estimated the current configuration needs about 25 spaces while the new building would require 58; the applicant will provide 31 on-site and seeks relief for the remainder.
Knight said, “the proposed development will replace an outdated makeshift structure and overgrown undeveloped lot with a blighting influence on the streetscape with a modern convenience store building that will enhance retail options for surrounding residents and workers.” The planning bureau recommended approval with conditions including coordinating with Capital Region Water for stormwater work, bringing signage into compliance, designing the dumpster enclosure to code (section 7-331.12), and considering removal of a western curb cut on the McLean Street frontage to reduce potential vehicle-pedestrian conflicts.
Attorney Jacob Doman and engineer Sean Haas presented the applicant’s plans and responded to board questions about circulation, accessibility and fuel canopy removal. The applicant said the redevelopment increases striped parking from an estimated 20 currently to 31 on-site spaces and that the use’s short customer dwell times and nearby on-street parking and bus routes support the requested reduction.
The board voted to approve the special exception with the planning bureau conditions; the chair said the applicant will receive a written decision within 45 days.
The decision allows the owner to move forward subject to building and permitting reviews and the conditions adopted from the planning bureau. The planning bureau’s recommended conditions will inform the site work during permitting, including any required coordination with public utilities and the city engineer.
