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Warren council approves rezoning for Pennsylvania General Energy headquarters
Summary
After a public hearing, Warren City Council unanimously approved rezoning a parcel at 120 Market Street from mixed-use to C-1 central commercial, clearing the way for Pennsylvania General Energy to pursue a larger wall sign and to align the property’s official designation with its longstanding commercial use.
Warren City Council voted unanimously Nov. 17 to reclassify a Pennsylvania General Energy-owned parcel at 120 Market Street from mixed-use to C-1 central commercial, following a public hearing and staff recommendations.
At the public hearing, Lisa McManus, general counsel for Pennsylvania General Energy, said the company converted the former Market Street Elementary School into its corporate headquarters in 2006 and that the building “has functioned as our commercial office building with a large institutional footprint.” She told council the parcel’s mixed-use sign limits (a 2-by-3-foot sign) are insufficient for a 29,000-square-foot building and noted the company’s earlier variance request was denied under the ordinance’s “undue hardship” standard. McManus said rezoning would allow appropriate signage and better align the property with surrounding commercial uses.
City staff and planning bodies supported the change. Mr. Rossi told council the city planning commission and Warren County planning office reviewed the application and recommended approval. Rossi explained that the zoning hearing board’s variance route could set precedent for other properties, whereas changing the zone map for this parcel — which directly abuts an existing commercial district — would not amount to impermissible spot zoning for other parcels farther up Market Street.
Council members asked whether the rezoning would affect adjacent green space; staff clarified the tax parcel referenced in the application covers the building and parking lot only and does not include neighboring vacant lots. After brief deliberation the council made a motion to approve the ordinance and adopted the rezoning on a roll call vote.
Council’s action now permits Pennsylvania General Energy to pursue, as a next step, any sign approvals allowed within the C-1 district; McManus emphasized that PGE was not asking tonight for sign permits, only the zoning map amendment. The ordinance and application materials were part of the official record and staff noted the required public notices ran in the Times Observer on Nov. 3 and Nov. 8.
