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Erie zoning board approves dimensional variance to allow three-family conversion at 302 Cherry Street
Summary
The Erie Zoning Hearing Board approved a dimensional variance allowing the conversion of 302 Cherry Street into three residential units despite the parcel’s 4,125 sq ft size and the ordinance’s 2,000 sq ft-per-family standard; the vote was 4–0 and the owner was told to begin the permit process.
The Erie Zoning Hearing Board voted to approve a dimensional variance for 302 Cherry Street, allowing Timothy Hoover to convert the building into three residential units. The decision was announced following testimony and a roll-call vote that recorded four yes votes and no opposition.
Timothy Hoover, who identified himself as the property owner and gave his address for the record, told the board he bought the building in September and described prior uses that included a store, a restaurant and later a church. “I bought the property at 302 Cherry,” Hoover said, and described plans “to turn it into a three-unit with a storage garage downstairs.” He said the layout would provide two one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit.
Staff cited Section 205 of the local ordinance, which sets the minimum lot area at 2,000 square feet per family. The materials provided to the board list the parcel at 4,125 square feet; that figure is below the 6,000 square feet that would be required for three families under a strict per-family calculation, and the variance request sought relief from that requirement.
Hoover presented building plans and said the site contains three on-site parking spaces—one at the front/left side and two at the rear where an old garage foundation remains. He said the building already has exit easements and stairs that meet fire-code egress needs. Board members asked about ownership (Equity Trust Company as Hoover’s self-directed IRA custodian) and whether the parcel’s public records listed its zoning correctly; staff confirmed the property is in an R2 medium-density residential district and clarified that county billing classifications that show a different code do not change zoning.
After questions, the board approved the variance by roll call; Amy (staff) read the votes as yes from Mr. Seabald, Miss King, Miss Gunin and Mr. Johnson, resulting in a 4–0 approval. The board advised Hoover to submit permit applications and provide prints as part of the building permit process.
The decision authorizes the dimensional relief needed to proceed to permitting but does not itself grant building permits; Hoover was told to follow the city’s standard permitting process and submit required documentation.
Next steps: the appellant will file permit applications and coordinate with staff on plan review and permit issuance.
