Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission tables Rowe Properties expansion at 3308 West Second Street pending PennDOT, zoning review
Summary
The Chester City Planning Commission on Feb. 12 tabled a preliminary/final land development plan from Rowe Properties LLC to consolidate three lots and add a 7,550 sq ft metal-fabrication building at 3308 West Second Street until PennDOT highway-occupancy and any necessary zoning relief are resolved.
Rowe Properties LLC asked the Chester City Planning Commission on Feb. 12 for approval of a preliminary and final subdivision and land development plan to consolidate three lots at 3308 West Second Street and construct a new 7,550-square-foot building for metal fabrication. The commission voted to table the application until the applicant provides documentation from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) resolving driveway and highway-occupancy issues and until any required zoning hearing board relief is resolved.
The project, located in the Light Industrial Commercial (LIC) zoning district in the West End priority development area, would partially demolish existing structures and build a new single building up to about 28 feet tall, with four piers supporting new steel construction above existing footprint. Applicant representatives told the commission they do not expect the work to add employees but said the addition would improve workflow for an existing sign- and metal-fabrication business based at the site. The applicant also proposed new sidewalks, reconstructed driveways and loading docks, and removal of asphalt to create new green space and landscaping.
Planning staff highlighted several outstanding technical items in their comment letter, including confirmation of exact building height, planting-strip separation between driveway and parking area (an 8-foot requirement in the ordinance), and placement of street trees where utilities run in the right of way. The applicant said utilities are existing and that they will supply will-serve letters and utility-location details; they also proposed four shade trees and additional shrubs and grasses on-site and a parking reconfiguration including one ADA stall.
City and county reviewers sought truck-turning exhibits and confirmation that fire apparatus can access the site. The Chester Fire Department representative said fire access from U.S. Route 13 (referred to in materials as 291/West Second Street) and Clayton Street would be used and that hydrant locations make the driveway pattern acceptable for firefighting operations.
Two outside reviewers urged additional conditions before approval. Colliers Engineering Design advised against final approval until a PennDOT pre‑scoping meeting for the Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) is complete and the permit issues are resolved. The commission’s motion to table required the applicant to return with PennDOT documentation and included an amendment to require the applicant to resolve any zoning hearing board matters related to variances or nonconformities prior to returning.
The motion to table passed on a voice vote with the commission in favor. The project remains pending; the applicant and city staff said they will work with PennDOT, obtain required permits and provide revised plans addressing planting, driveway and fire-access details before the item returns to the commission.
