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Huntington Township planning commission recommends office-only occupancy for JVI Group project
Summary
The Planning Commission voted to recommend supervisors allow an occupancy permit for the office portion of the JVI Group structure on Old Harrisburg Road, while deferring garage/driveway approvals until solicitor advice and external permits are resolved.
The Huntington Township Planning Commission on its October agenda recommended that township supervisors allow issuance and use of an occupancy permit for the front-office portion of a JVI Group structure on Old Harrisburg Road, while declining to endorse occupancy or permits for the rear garage and a third driveway until outside permits and solicitor guidance are resolved.
Commissioners and township staff reviewed building waivers and an occupancy-permit question after staff reported the office portion of the structure already has an occupancy permit from Wilbur but the overall project remains dependent on a highway occupancy permit and an NPDS permit. ‘‘The office is ready; the garage is not,’’ a commissioner summarized during discussion.
Why it matters: the applicant told the commission it plans to move about 20 residents into the front-office space immediately and to delay construction of the garage and other site work until state reviews — including DEP review of MPDES/MPDES-related amendments and PennDOT highway-occupancy approvals — are complete. Township staff said a recent court decision produced mixed precedent on whether missing third-party permits can legally block local action; staff said it had sent the decision to the township solicitor for advice but recommended the commission still supply a recommendation to the supervisors.
What the commission did: Tom moved and a colleague seconded a motion recommending supervisors allow occupancy/use for the office portion only. The commission voted in favor. Staff said it would consult the solicitor in the coming days about the court decision and follow up with supervisors.
Details clarified in the meeting: staff confirmed the office portion met the township’s occupancy requirements based on inspection; there is no occupancy permit for the garage. The township will not act on the garage or third-driveway items until the required highway-occupancy and NPDS permits are secured or the solicitor advises otherwise.
Next steps: staff said it would speak with the solicitor within a few days and relay the commission’s recommendation to the supervisors. Any supervisor action or additional permits required from PennDOT or DEP remain external to the Planning Commission’s approval.
