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Zoning board approves duplex conversion at 721 Violet Street after applicant shows limited market for storefront
Summary
The Norristown Zoning Hearing Board approved a variance allowing conversion of the ground‑floor office at 721 Violet Street into a duplex, after the applicant presented marketing evidence and the municipality said it would not oppose the revised request.
The Norristown Zoning Hearing Board on April 28 approved an application to convert the mixed‑use property at 721 Violet Street into a two‑unit dwelling, finding the applicant’s revised design addressed earlier board concerns.
The applicant returned to the board asking to reduce a prior triplex proposal to a duplex after members said a less‑intensive residential use would better fit the R2 neighborhood. Attorney for the applicant read the board’s prior decision, noting the property had previously been configured as mixed use and that a change from retail to private office had been permitted earlier.
“From January until present, there has been one call, zero showings,” realtor Donna Moles testified about marketing the first‑floor commercial space after it was listed on MLS. She said two four‑bedroom apartments could each rent for about $2,000 per month, and that conversion would reduce traffic compared with a retail use.
Architect Jeffrey Owen described plans dated Jan. 5, 2026, showing an internal conversion that keeps exterior windows and adds one internal unit with three to four bedrooms and three bathrooms; the second‑floor apartment would remain unchanged. He said the site has six on‑site parking spaces (five surface spaces and one garage).
Deanna Williams of Kilkenny Law, representing the municipality, told the board the modified duplex request falls within permitted twin/duplex dwellings in the R2 district when the dwelling was previously designed as such, and said the municipality would not oppose the variance.
After closing testimony and public comment, the board approved the application. A member of the board recused themself from the motions; the final motion to approve carried with a three‑yes majority and one abstention.
The decision permits internal conversion only; the applicant said exterior window openings and storefront features would remain and that any further changes would be the subject of future reviews and permits.
