Erie zoning board tables decision on Spearman Youth Center addition after large public turnout

At a public appeals hearing in Erie, zoning board members on appeal 13319 deferred action on a dimensional variance request from Steve Spearman to finish an addition at 524 West 17th Street, a facility he uses to run a youth program called You Look Like Me.

The request seeks relief from the R2 district rear-yard setback requirement in Section 205.5 of the city ordinance; planning staff said the required rear setback is 20 feet and the structure as built sits about 4 feet from the rear lot line. During the hearing residents and program participants urged the board to allow completion of the addition, saying the center serves hundreds of local youth free of charge.

Board members and staff outlined several technical paths forward. Planning staff and the solicitor said an adjacent alley may be credited toward setback depth under Section 205.4, which would increase the effective rear setback to about 9 feet. The board also offered a working compromise: require the applicant to shorten the addition by 6 feet so the structure would be at a 15-foot rear setback and grant a variance for the remaining 5 feet; any approval would still require full compliance with building code. The applicant said removing 6 feet would damage newly installed turf and other finishes, and that he lacks funds to rebuild that work immediately.

Appellant Steve Spearman, who identified himself as the founder of the You Look Like Me youth program, testified that he used about $42,000 of his own money to pay for the addition and interior work and that the facility serves at-risk youth and seniors without charging fees. "I hired that Amish group of people not knowing that they didn't go... get a permit," Spearman said, explaining he did not know permits were required for the work. Multiple residents and program participants spoke in support: Levon Rowan said the gym keeps kids off the street and that Spearman never charged him when he trained; Deontay Flemings said, "He don't charge a dime" for youth training; Andre Horton called the facility "a bright light" for the neighborhood and said, "Space matters."

Planning staff noted other options, including acquiring the vacant lot behind the property or pursuing an alley vacation to combine lot area. Staff also warned that zoning relief would not remove separate building-code requirements: any approved addition would still need fire-rated walls, inspections and other code approvals before work could resume.

After discussion the board voted to table the appeal so the applicant and staff can pursue remaining options and report back. Board members asked the applicant to stay in contact with planning staff (Amy) and indicated staff would place an update under old business at the next meeting. The board said tabling would give Spearman time to consult contractors about the feasibility and cost of the board's compromise and to pursue acquisition or alley options.

The zoning board did not adopt a final variance at the hearing. The board and staff emphasized that any future approval would remain conditional on building-code compliance and required permits.