Harrisburg planning commission approves several housing conversions, convenience-store rebuild and infill townhomes

The Harrisburg Planning Commission on an evening agenda approved multiple zoning and land-development items that together include new housing units, a reconstructed convenience store and several infill homes.

The commission approved a special exception to allow reconstruction and expansion of a convenience store and related parking relief at 2017 North Sixth Street, a conversion of office and vacant buildings into new apartments at 1909 North Front Street (60 units) and at 333 Market/Marcus Street (floors 11–19; 81 units), expansion of an existing multifamily property at 1332 North Second Street (from 5 to 13 units), creation of four attached townhomes on Market Street, and a special exception to establish a place of worship at 1100 North 17th Street. Most proposals were approved with planning-bureau conditions addressing site design, landscaping, stormwater and pedestrian access.

Why it matters: The package advances the city’s immediate housing supply by converting underused office and vacant properties to residential use and fills long-vacant lots with infill housing. Several approvals include conditions to coordinate stormwater, floodplain and pedestrian-access improvements, and to bring signage and trash enclosures into code compliance.

Votes at a glance

- 2017 North Sixth Street — special exception to redevelop an existing convenience store and obtain off-street parking relief (provide 31 spaces vs. 58 required). Approved with staff conditions to remove certain curb cuts, add landscape screening, coordinate with Capital Region Water on stormwater mitigation, bring dumpster enclosure and signage into conformance. Outcome: approved (voice vote; motion carried). Planning staff: Jeff Knight.

- 1332 North Second Street & 122 Calder Street — special exception and variance to convert former funeral-home space into 8 new units (expanding 5 to 13 units) and to authorize use/lease of existing surface parking…