Planning commission recommends approval for Eileen & Sean’s Place: six long‑term accessible units and Liberty Resources office, subject to conditions

The City of Chester Planning Commission voted to recommend that city council approve the preliminary/final subdivision and land development application for Eileen & Sean’s Place, a project to consolidate eight lots at 1110–1130 Morton Avenue and construct a building with six residential units (five one‑bedroom, one two‑bedroom) and a separate office for Liberty Resources Center for Independent Living.

Planning staff said the proposed uses are permitted in the C1R (Neighborhood Commercial Residential) district and that total parking of 14 spaces meets ordinance requirements; the applicant indicated parking will largely serve visitors and office employees and that only a few residents are expected to have vehicles. The applicant said the office will employ about eight people and that one van‑accessible space is required; the plan proposes six ADA parking spaces to meet anticipated demand.

The residential units were described by Liberty Housing representatives as permanent homes for people transitioning from nursing homes and institutions into community living. Bianca Walladeen, executive director of Liberty Housing Development Corporation, said tenants are typically adults with physical or mental disabilities and that the organization expects residents to remain in place as accessible housing is scarce.

Applicant representatives addressed planning and engineering comments. Civil engineer Dave Damon said driveway widths will comply with the ordinance (24 feet on the east driveway; 28 feet on the west) and that the buildings will be sprinklered. Damon also presented exhibits showing how a 48‑foot fire ladder truck can navigate the rear alleyway after selective widening at either end.

City and county reviewers raised several conditions. Colliers Engineering asked the applicant to confirm ownership of a 15‑foot alleyway (which affects whether the alley can be regulated or improved by the city), to provide outside‑agency approvals (PennDOT highway occupancy permit for Morton Avenue work; Chester Water Authority and DelCora approvals for water and sewer connections) and to show that required public‑safety turning movements will not remove essential on‑street parking. Fire Marshal Edward Riley requested confirmation that the office and residential buildings’ fire separation and sprinkler systems meet code; staff asked for a record‑plan note stating the presence of a fire‑protection sprinkler system.

Commissioners placed conditions on the recommendation: all items in the Planning & Zoning review letter (06/02/2025), the Colliers engineering review letter (06/06/2025), and the fire marshal memo (06/04/2025) must be addressed to the satisfaction of the planning and zoning department and the fire marshal. The commission also requested a designated no‑parking area in the adjacent alley and on nearby streets be established by city ordinance and that the travel path for a 48‑foot fire truck be verified to the fire marshal’s satisfaction before the plan records.

The applicant confirmed plans to pursue PennDOT, Chester Water Authority and DelCora approvals and to sign a development agreement that would reflect any required signage and no‑parking restrictions. The commission’s recommendation will now be forwarded to city council for the formal ordinance and final approvals.

No final recorded vote counts were given in the meeting transcript; the action was recorded as a planning commission recommendation to council.