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Parking, safety and incomplete plans cited in denial of 304 N. Perry Street conversion
Summary
Board members said the conversion plan for 304 N. Perry Street lacked full architectural plans and proposed only four parking spaces versus the roughly six required under City Code; fire-safety and accessibility gaps also influenced the 3-0 denial.
Johnstown Zoning Board members highlighted parking shortfalls, missing construction drawings, and life-safety uncertainties when they voted to deny Victory Homes USA’s proposal to convert 304 N. Perry Street into four dwelling units.
Board members said the submitted site plan showed four parking spaces while City Code requires approximately 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit — about six spaces for four units — a shortfall the Board found significant. Members also flagged that the drawings referenced additional sheets that were not provided, preventing staff from confirming fire separations, egress, sprinkler requirements, plumbing upgrades, and other life-safety details. The Code Enforcement representative, James McCredie, advised that complete plans are required before permits can be issued and that Planning Board site-plan review would be necessary if a variance were approved.
Members emphasized accessibility obligations, including a required handicapped-accessible parking space and an accessible first-floor unit, and questioned whether existing electrical and plumbing systems (the electrical service was upgraded in 2014 and reportedly includes four panels) would support four separate dwelling units. The Board said expanding front-yard parking to reach required counts could alter the neighborhood’s residential character, a factor in its decision to deny the variance.
