Zoning board approves Tech Central York community center and waives parking at 459 West King St.

The City of York Zoning Hearing Board on April 2026 approved a special exception and a parking variance to allow the York Community Resource Center Development Corp., doing business as Tech Central York, to operate a community center at 459 West King St.

Beth Kern, attorney for the applicant, told the board the Development Corp. closed on the property March 30 and that the nonprofit intends to expand Tech Central York’s workforce and social-services programming into the 50,000-square-foot former school. "We are willing to discuss a reasonable condition relative to the parking," Kern said, while arguing that the site's preexisting lack of off-street parking creates a legal hardship under the ordinance.

Alice Anne Frost, executive director of the York Community Resource Center Development Corp., said the organization currently operates Tech Central York at 800 East Market St. and plans to offer trades training (plumbing, HVAC, electrical, facility maintenance) in addition to wraparound social services. Frost told the board the organization plans daytime, half-day trades classes for working adults and estimates an eventual on-site staff of 10–15 and roughly 40–45 students in steady operation.

Frost described a renovation plan that, when complete, would convert the building into a "state of the art" facility; she said the organization expects to invest about $5,500,000 in interior renovations. Because the site has no on-site parking, Frost said the nonprofit is negotiating to rent about 50 spaces from a nearby church as a contingency to serve employees and clients. "If we don't get the zoning, we wouldn't be able to go to permitting, thus not being able to go into renovations and, really, stalling the opening and the ability to operate the building," Frost said.

Board members and the solicitor discussed whether the proposed activities fit the zoning definition of "community center" versus an educational facility; the applicant argued the mix of social services, workforce training and recreational activities falls within the community-center definition in the ordinance. After discussion, a board member moved to approve the special exception and to waive the city's off-street parking requirement for the site; the motion carried on a board vote.

The board's approval clears the way for the Development Corp. to submit permitting as soon as the zoning relief is recorded; Frost said the organization intends to begin permitting and renovations promptly with a goal of moving into construction by early summer.