State College council approves 2‑hour on‑street parking pilot, eases ceiling‑height rule for pre‑1950 buildings

State College Borough Council on Monday approved a six‑month pilot that limits on‑street meter parking to two hours and adopted an amendment to the Center Region rental housing and building safety code easing ceiling‑height requirements for some pre‑1950 buildings.

The parking pilot, which council approved by voice vote, will limit on‑street metered parking to two hours through Jan. 31, 2026. Parking staff said the borough will publicize the change on the borough parking homepage, through the Downtown State College Improvement District and via ParkMobile notices when drivers pay. Council President (title: Council President) described the pilot as a “good step” and said the borough will evaluate alternatives — including different enforcement approaches or pricing — as the experiment proceeds.

Council also approved, by roll call, an ordinance amending the Center Region rental housing and building safety code to allow limited exceptions for ceiling heights in buildings constructed prior to 1950. Staff reported the change responds to an uptick of short‑term rental permit applications in older buildings where stairs and upper‑floor clearances fall slightly under current minimums. Center Region Code Administrator Schneider told council most affected units are only a few inches under the standard; the amendment is intended to address those marginal cases while maintaining safety safeguards including interconnected smoke alarms and an appeals process for properties outside the revised threshold.

The meeting opened with routine consent items; staff recommended the consent package and council approved it by voice vote.

Why it matters: The parking pilot is intended to increase customer turnover and support downtown retail and will be evaluated during the six‑month trial. The code amendment is aimed at preserving rental housing supply in older structures while retaining life‑safety protections.

Votes at a glance

- Consent items: Motion moved and seconded; voice vote; outcome: approved. (No roll‑call tally recorded in the transcript.)

- Two‑hour parking pilot: Motion moved and seconded; voice vote; outcome: approved. Pilot period as presented runs through Jan. 31, 2026. Staff will publicize the change through borough channels, the Downtown Improvement District, and ParkMobile.

- Ordinance: Amendment to the Center Region rental housing and building safety code addressing de minimis ceiling‑height variances for buildings constructed prior to 1950. Motion moved and seconded; roll‑call recorded votes in favor by councilmembers Herndon, Kasab, Krishnan Cutty, Hayes, Myers, Portney and Balachandran; outcome: approved.

Council discussion and staff notes

- Communication: Staff said the borough will add notices on parking meters’ online payment platform and social media to make limits clear to users.

- Safety rationale: Schneider explained the ceiling‑height standard balances habitability and life safety; smoke and combustion products collect at ceiling level and a minimum clearance gives occupants space to evacuate. He said the proposed change addresses a small number of properties, often off by one to a few inches.

- Appeals process: Staff confirmed individual appeals remain available for properties outside the amendment’s scope.

The council meeting moved on to other agenda items after the votes; staff will monitor the parking pilot and report back to the council as planned.