Zoning board approves conversion of single‑family house to two‑family at 341 Spring Street with rear parking condition

The Scranton Zoning Hearing Board approved a variance allowing the conversion of 341 Spring Street from a single‑family to a two‑family dwelling, subject to a condition that required parking be installed at the rear of the property.

Applicant Zahir Akhbar, who said he bought the house last year, told the board the structure was previously used as two units — each with separate entrances, kitchens and bathrooms — and that he had discovered the property was coded as single‑family after purchase. Akhbar said a concrete garage pad remains at the rear of the lot and that there is access from Spring Lane/ally to the back yard.

Board members noted that two‑family dwellings are a permitted use in R‑10, but that the property had to meet parking and site‑layout standards given the current registration as a single‑family. The board required that parking be established at the rear of the lot rather than creating a drive across the center of the yard; members directed the applicant to provide two paved parking spaces (sized roughly to code) at the rear accessed from Spring Lane. The board said that parking improvements must be completed before issuance of the certificate of occupancy.

With that contingency in place, the motion to approve was made and seconded; the board voted unanimously to grant the variance. The board’s minutes note the condition is to protect yard appearance and limit disruption to neighboring properties.