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Applicant withdraws church‑to‑housing request after zoning‑criteria gaps flagged
Summary
An applicant seeking to convert a church at 31 N. Loyalsock Ave. into multi‑family housing withdrew his conditional‑use application after the Montoursville Planning Commission identified missing information and required compliance with Article 17 (Conditional Use Criteria). Residents raised concerns about density and alley access.
Bob Weaver, chairman of the Montoursville Borough Planning Commission, opened discussion Jan. 7 on a conditional‑use request from Eric Barr to convert the church at 31 North Loyalsock Avenue into multi‑family housing.
Tom MacDonald, the borough zoning officer with Central Keystone COG, reviewed the submission and said the application submitted Dec. 12 appeared incomplete. MacDonald’s initial understanding listed four dwelling units in the church and two in the rectory; Barr’s sketch presented at the meeting showed six units in the church with the existing single‑family house remaining for a total of seven dwelling units and a sketch‑noted 15 parking spaces. The commission identified that the applicant had not answered items 1–8 on the application form and had marked item 6 as not applicable even though it requires demonstration of compliance with Article 17, Conditional Use Criteria, of the Zoning Ordinance.
Commission members pressed for the missing documentation and clear responses to Article 17 criteria before taking any recommendation. The record shows commissioners asked detailed questions about density, site access and potential variances; the commission provided Mr. Barr a copy of Article 17 and instructed him to address the items as part of a complete application.
Audience members raised concerns during public comment. Resident Dennis Holt said he was worried about increased density, proper access and the possibility that variances might be needed. Marie Pena said access via the one‑lane alley could pose safety risks for her children. The commission did not vote on the project at the Jan. 7 meeting.
Mr. Barr told the zoning officer he would withdraw the application and resubmit after completing the required sections. A post‑meeting note in the minutes records that Barr informed Tom MacDonald on the morning of Jan. 8 that he was permanently withdrawing the application.
The commission took no formal action to approve the conversion; any future filing would need to show full compliance with Article 17 and provide the completeness items requested by the zoning officer.
