Planning commission recommends approval for Walsh subdivision, pending variances

Jamie Joyce, chair of the Oakmont Burke Planning Commission, said the commission would move forward with a recommendation that the borough council approve the Walsh plan of subdivision pending resolution of variances listed in the county/engineer letter.

Applicant Richard Walsh described the project as “just a simple subdivision of, separating a very large, attached multi units ... and I want to make it into 2 single family homes,” saying one side would have about five bedrooms and the other about four. Walsh said one unit remains rented and the plan includes reestablishing a property line and building a dividing wall and adjusting a shared garage partition.

Commission members and staff focused on dimensional issues. Staff noted side-setback and front-yard interference questions in the review packet and said county reviewers had outstanding comments. Commissioners observed existing side setbacks on neighboring lots of roughly 12–14 feet and agreed the structure itself would not change but that the relocated property line could require variances.

Chair Joyce moved to recommend approval of the subdivision as submitted, “pending resolution of the variances listed in the letter.” The motion was seconded and the commission voted in favor; Joyce declared the recommendation passed. Staff and the applicant said the next step is county review and that staff will email the applicant the updated county letter and application materials.

The commission did not adopt final zoning variances at the meeting; the recommendation sent to borough council is conditioned on resolving the variance items identified in the county/engineer letter, and the applicant requested time to coordinate with county review.