Erie Planning Commission reviews fire‑garage retrofit, multiple housing proposals and Bayfront parking expansion; several items recommended to council

The Erie Planning Commission on Sept. 16 heard updates and approved recommendations on a range of land‑use items, including a public‑works presentation on converting an existing building at the Miller Brothers site into a new fire department service garage, rezoning and conditional‑use recommendations for proposed developments, and a two‑story vertical expansion of the Bayfront parking garage.

The meeting began with a planning‑department update on a pending amendment to the city’s subdivision and land development ordinance (SALDO), then moved to project presentations. Jackie Spry, director of planning and neighborhood resources, told commissioners the SALDO amendment (Ordinance No. 23 19 89) completed a public hearing and was scheduled for a council first reading the day after the commission meeting.

Public‑works representative Adam Trott presented Phase 1 work at the Miller Brothers site, describing plans to retrofit a 22,000‑square‑foot pre‑engineered metal building on the southeast corner of the broader public safety complex to house the fire department’s service and storage garage. Trott said the work will relocate those operations from the Marsh Street facility — “We’re taking that and we’re moving it into the 22,000 square foot facility,” he said — and will provide higher clearances (Trott noted a roughly 22‑foot bottom main beam versus the current roughly 13‑foot interior clearance at Marsh Street), seven clean service bays and a larger service area. Trott said the roof work is already under contract and that the full garage work overlaps with the roof project; the roof work was expected to finish in December and the team is targeting occupancy in late August on the project schedule. Trott said offices and administration at Marsh Street are not part of the move.

On rezoning, petitioner Drew Baldwin asked the commission to recommend that a vacant parcel adjacent to 4125 Peach Street be rezoned from R‑1 to C‑2 to consolidate the parcel with neighboring commercial property. Baldwin said the two parcels historically operated together under commercial use and that a six‑foot privacy fence would remain along the residential boundary. The commission voted to recommend rezoning to city council.

Three waterfront and near‑water housing projects were presented. Andrew Ghez, representing Arc Terrace (214 Cherry/West Second/West Third/Poplar), presented an updated conceptual plan for roughly 61 units in multiple fourplex buildings. Ghez said the team added wraparound front porches and clarified the trash and mailbox locations; he also said the project currently shows 68 surface parking spaces, 25 tuck‑under spaces and a total of 93 spaces for 61 units, which he said is “in excess of the code.” The planning department’s design review subcommittee had met and provided comments, including requests for native plantings and details on colors and exterior fixtures.

Commissioners debated the project and the design review items. The commission voted 2–1 to recommend that city council approve the conditional‑use application, subject to receipt of outstanding items requested by the design review subcommittee and as required by the zoning ordinance; the outstanding items were described in the meeting as detailed materials and color selections, exterior fixtures, siding and trash handling details.

MacErie Partners (presented by representatives from Interface Studio Architects) proposed two three‑story buildings totaling 30 units on consolidated lots at 263 West Front Street, with a mix of one‑ and two‑bed units and roughly 30 parking spaces on site. Designers described building heights near 44 feet 9 inches and 40 feet 7 inches and notable design elements such as balconies facing the lake. The design review committee had preliminary comments — including replacement of removed street trees, additional third‑space amenity concerns and requests for foundation material details — and commissioners moved to recommend approval pending submittal of the detailed materials, lighting fixtures and planting plan required by the zoning code. The commission approved that recommendation.

At the Bayfront, Shelby Beal (Bealar and Associates) presented for Erie Events on a proposal to add two stories to the existing three‑story parking garage adjacent to the Marriott to accommodate overflow from the convention center and surrounding development. The vertical expansion would add 232 parking spaces, retain the existing footprint except for a small entrance canopy, and extend elevators and stair enclosures to the new top level. The design calls for matching existing brick, precast and concrete materials and for new wind/snow screens on the west side of the garage to reduce snow intrusion; presenters said the top of the expanded structure would be about 49 feet 8 inches and that the project meets zoning height limits. Commissioners voted to recommend approval.

Other business: commissioners approved a nomination to the design review subcommittee — Sarah Ludwig was approved to join the subcommittee — and the commission acknowledged a mayoral appointment of Carl J. Anderson III as an alternate to the planning commission. The planning department reported more than 1,500 public comments received for the Erie Outdoors comprehensive parks and open space plan; staff described upcoming stakeholder meetings, neighborhood outreach and a study committee meeting on Oct. 6. Spry also said staff had submitted a MAP grant application in March to rewrite the zoning code and SALDO, and that state budget timing will determine grant awards and next steps; staff are preparing an RFP for the zoning/SALDO consultant pending grant notification.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Aug. 19, 2025 meeting minutes (with correction): motion approved, unanimous. - Recommendation to city council to rezone parcel adjacent to 4125 Peach Street from R‑1 to C‑2 (Baldwin Brothers): motion approved, unanimous recommendation to council. - Conditional‑use recommendation for Arc Terrace (214 Cherry/West Second/etc.): recommendation to council approved 2–1, conditioned on receipt of outstanding design items requested by the design review subcommittee and required by the zoning ordinance. - Recommendation to city council for MacErie Partners (263 West Front Street): motion approved pending detailed submittals required by zoning code. - Bayfront parking garage vertical expansion (Erie Events): motion approved. - Nomination of Sarah Ludwig to design review subcommittee: approved.

Why it matters: The projects discussed would reshape parts of Erie’s waterfront and near‑water neighborhoods, add housing units, increase parking capacity for the convention center and relocate key fire‑department maintenance functions into a larger, modernized service garage. The planning commission’s recommendations now move several applications to city council for final action.

Speakers quoted in this article were identified in the meeting record and are listed below. All quotes are verbatim from the meeting transcript.