Planning Commission grants preliminary approval and waiver for 601 South 9th Street parking facility

The Reading Planning Commission on June 24 approved a waiver of the stormwater groundwater recharge calculation and granted preliminary plan approval for a phased parking project at 601 South 9th Street.

Jerome, the planning office reviewer, described a three-phase approach: phase 1 to build curb and sidewalks and prepare for a city street-improvement contract, phase 2 to permit and construct a flex building and install service laterals, and phase 3 to add sidewalks on East Laurel Street after the city addresses existing subsidence in that area. The applicant submitted the project as a preliminary/final application and provided a phasing scheme to help split financing and timing.

The applicant asked the commission to waive the groundwater recharge requirement for this site, citing deep fill, old retaining walls and unstable soils that make infiltration inappropriate. Tim, Public Works, recommended granting that specific waiver while urging the applicant to satisfy remaining stormwater and erosion-control requirements at the final-plan stage. "I think I would recommend the waiver of the infiltration on this site," Tim said during the discussion.

Commissioners voted to grant the waiver under section 505.125 of the stormwater ordinance and then approved preliminary plan approval, conditioned on resolving all items in the Hawk Valley Associates review letter dated June 19, 2025, and meeting final-plan requirements. The approval was taken with the understanding that detailed stormwater designs, sanitary planning modules (if required), erosion-and-sedimentation control, municipal improvements agreements and other technical items will be addressed in the final submissions.

Next steps: the applicant will complete technical reviews, submit final plans for each phase and resolve the outstanding review comments for recording and final approval at a future Planning Commission meeting.