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Zoning board approves Bella’s Events space on Market Street with parking and floodplain conditions
Summary
The Zoning Hearing Board granted a special exception to establish an event space at 1025 Market Street, subject to coordination on parking, floodplain review and operational limits including no alcohol and a midnight end time.
The City of Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board approved a special exception allowing Bella's Events to operate an event space at 1025 Market Street, conditioned on coordination for parking, floodplain review and adherence to the operations described in the applicant's business plan, including no on-site alcohol and operations ending no later than midnight.
Planning Director Jeffrey Knight summarized the planning bureau's review and the planning commission recommendation. The bureau categorized the proposed event space under "a use not specifically prohibited" by the zoning code and cited prior hearings where event spaces were conditioned to avoid de facto nightclubs. Knight told the board the property sits on the eastern edge of the Downtown Center district at a heavily trafficked intersection and that few housing units are within roughly a quarter mile, reducing anticipated residential impacts.
Knight said the planning commission recommended approval with three primary conditions: ensure any investments conform to floodplain regulations due to location in the AE floodplain; that the applicant seek coordination with nearby surface parking lot owners or secure off-street parking to avoid sidewalk parking near the property; and that the applicant conform to the business plan, including a prohibition on alcohol and operations ending no later than midnight. Knight noted the applicants testified to minimal cosmetic investments and agreed to the conditions.
Applicant Stephanie Salas, owner of Bella's Events, testified she has worked as an event planner for about 10 years and that the venue will host parties, receptions (including quinceañeras), and small business conferences. Salas said she is actively seeking secured parking options but that some nearby lots are for sale and negotiations continue. Dale Hare of KD3 Design Studio assisted on the application and confirmed ongoing efforts to secure parking agreements.
Board members asked about parking, hours, flood insurance and on-site safety measures. Salas said she and the property owner have verbal arrangements and are pursuing written agreements; she also said the owner would carry flood insurance and that her operation would provide a door monitor for child safety. After discussion, a motion to approve the special exception conditioned on the planning commission recommendations was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The board chair said a written decision will be issued within 45 days.
Votes at a glance: The board approved case 2604 (1025 Market Street) with conditions: floodplain coordination/review; encourage securing off-street parking; and conformance with the submitted business plan including no alcohol and operations ending by midnight.
