Planning commission roundup: conditional approvals, reaffirmations and zoning recommendation from Aug. 26 meeting

At its Aug. 26 meeting the City of Reading Planning Commission approved a series of conditional land‑development actions, reaffirmations and policy recommendations that will affect multiple development projects across the city.

Key procedural outcomes included conditional approval for the KarTech Building 163 revised preliminary plan at 1001 Schuylkill Avenue; a revised phasing plan and conditional approval of Phase 1 of the 601 South Ninth Street parking‑and‑mixed‑use project with authorization to execute the municipal improvements agreement; conditional preliminary/final approval for the TMC annexation and land development plan at 743 Thorn Street contingent on council approval of a no‑parking ordinance and required historic‑district boundary actions; and conditional approval of the Reading Housing Authority’s Oak Brook Recreation Park land development plan at 1001 Scott Street, with a stormwater management maintenance agreement required.

The commission also granted a time extension and tabled the PSO Luzerne Street subdivision and land‑development plan (1420–1422 Luzerne Street) until Dec. 1 to allow a staff site visit and discussions about alley width, utility poles and EDU (equivalent dwelling unit) reservations. The commission reaffirmed prior approvals for the Berkshire Building plan, the Nineteenth Ward pump station revised preliminary/final plan and the 901 Spring Street McDonald’s land development plan, and it authorized municipal improvements and stormwater agreements where required.

On policy and redevelopment matters, the commission recommended that City Council adopt a zoning amendment regulating short‑term rentals and provided reuse recommendations to the Redevelopment Authority for three blighted properties: 228 Moss Street (recommended for conversion to multifamily residential) and 645 Locust Street and 311 Hollenbach Street (recommended for single‑family residential reuse). The commission also voted to provide a letter of support to the Borough of West Reading for a Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development grant to rehabilitate the Playground Drive trail system, with the condition that the trail design maintain access for City of Reading Public Works maintenance vehicles and preserve existing access easements.

A public presentation by the Berks County Industrial Development Authority outlined the agency’s acquisition of the former Glidden site and coordination with the developer proposing a Third Street shopping center; the IDA described environmental review and state buy‑sell processes required for redevelopment of contaminated industrial land and said HDR is reviewing cleanup and engineering plans.

Several motions were recorded as conditional approvals pending resolution of technical review letters from Hawk Valley Associates and other staff reports dated in August 2025. Where necessary, the commission authorized the chairman to execute municipal improvements agreements and stormwater maintenance agreements to allow projects to proceed into construction once conditions are met.

Votes at a glance

- KarTech Building 163 (1001 Schuylkill Ave): conditional revised preliminary approval subject to Hawk Valley Associates review letter dated 08/23/2025; outcome: approved (conditional).

- 601 South Ninth Street (phase 1): commission approved revised phasing and granted conditional approval of Phase 1 final plan subject to resolving issues in Hawk Valley Associates review letter dated 08/25/2025; commission authorized chairman to execute municipal improvements agreement; outcome: approved (conditional).

- TMC annexation and land development (743 Thorn Street): conditional preliminary/final approval subject to council adopting a no‑parking ordinance for Thorn Street and to historic‑district boundary approvals (HARB or council), and to resolving Hawk Valley Associates review letter dated 07/18/2025; commission also authorized execution of municipal improvements and stormwater maintenance agreements; outcome: approved (conditional).

- Reading Housing Authority Oak Brook Recreation Park (1001 Scott Street): conditional preliminary/final approval subject to resolving Hawk Valley Associates review letter dated 08/21/2025; stormwater management maintenance agreement required; outcome: approved (conditional).

- PSO Luzerne Street subdivision (1414–1422 Luzerne Street): planning commission accepted applicant’s request for a time extension to Dec. 1 for review and tabled the plan; outcome: time extension granted and plan tabled.

- Ninth Ward pump station (Stonecliff Park): reaffirmation of previous approval (10/22/2024) with conditions; outcome: reaffirmed.

- Berkshire Building plan, McDonald’s (901 Spring Street): reaffirmations of prior approvals (dates noted in meeting); outcome: reaffirmed.

- Redevelopment Authority reuse recommendations: 228 Moss St to multifamily; 645 Locust St and 311 Hollenbach St to single‑family reuse — commission recommended moving forward; outcome: recommended to Redevelopment Authority.

- West Reading Playground Drive trail: letter of support for DCED GCED grant with condition to maintain Public Works vehicle access and access easement; outcome: approved.

- Zoning amendment for short‑term rentals: commission recommended City Council adoption; outcome: recommended.

Several items will return for final action after the applicants provide signed municipal agreements, updated plan sheets, permits (including PennDOT HOPs where applicable) and any required HARB or council approvals for parking and historic‑district boundary changes. The commission frequently accepted conditional approvals that permit applicants to pursue procurement and bidding while outstanding technical items are resolved.