Planning staff reviews sketch plan for West Second Street truck storage; applicant says use continues

A sketch plan to consolidate two lots at 2423–2427 West Second Street and build a 27,000-square-foot structure for truck and parts storage was presented to the Chester City Planning Commission at its May 14 meeting.

Planning staff described the proposal as a consolidation of two lots, with a single building footprint of about 27,000 square feet, 54 ground-level parking spaces and 38 stalls roughly 30 feet long. Staff said the site is in the W-1 Waterfront zoning district and that the proposed principal uses — warehousing/storage and a trucking terminal — are not permitted uses in the W-1 district. The planning memo noted the applicant characterizes some existing conditions as a legal nonconformity and that the proposal would increase impervious surface coverage to about 92.3% where the ordinance allows a maximum of 80%.

"In the observation from our review of the plan, the proposed use appears to align with two industrial use types," planning staff said, noting those uses "are not permitted in the W‑one Zoning District." The memo that staff referenced also urged the applicant to show evidence if they claim the use is an existing nonconformity and to clarify limits on any expansion of a nonconforming use.

Attorney Robert Scott,…