Zoning & Subdivision Review Committee

Meeting Minutes

Tuesday – April 20, 1999 – 7:30 p.m. – MCRPC Offices

MEMBERS PRESENT	OTHERS PRESENT
Samuel Scott, Chairman	Dennis Puko, Executive Director
James Rollinson, Vice-Chairman
Clifford McCandless
Mike Sabo
Burroughs Price
Ray Foster

Mr. Scott, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. A quorum was present. The Minutes of the March 16, 1999 meeting were approved with no additions, corrections or deletions. The motion passed.

N E W B U S I N E S S

1. Two (2) Proposed Zoning Amendments for the Three Generations Property (formerly Westinghouse Park) on South Buhl Farm Drive – City of Hermitage – Mr. Puko reviewed these two proposed amendments with the Committee. He first reviewed the controversial history of three separate zoning map amendments in 1988 and 1989 and eventual adoption by Hermitage of the current zoning classification as part of a comprehensive city-wide zoning revision in 1993.

Mr. Puko reviewed the first part of this zoning amendment which is a text amendment to create a new "Institutional-2" zoning district. The proposed district permits all uses of the current Institutional District and a new group of 3 elderly care residential uses. It specifies a lengthy list of site development requirements, many of which are not typical of zoning ordinances, but instead typical of private deed covenants. Mr. Puko particularly questioned the requirement of a minimum age of 55 for residents of the 3 new uses. Such requirements may be seen as violating the Federal Fair Housing Law. Mr. Puko further noted that the amendment was prepared in cooperation with the developer, the area residents, and the city and, therefore, represents a consensus solution to a long-standing controversy.

After discussion, particularly about the potential age-limit flaw, a motion was made by Mr. McCandless and seconded by Mr. Sabo to recommend approval of the amendment and to further advise the City of Hermitage about the questionable age requirement. The motion passed.

Next, Mr. Puko reviewed the proposed map amendment to change the Three Generations property from Office Building District and Central Commercial to the new Institutional-2 zoning district. Committee members noted that the amendment could be construed as spot zoning, but again noted that it provided a consensus solution to a controversial matter.

After brief discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Price and seconded by Mr. Rollinson to recommend approval of the rezoning. The motion passed.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to conduct, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Dennis G. Puko,

Executive Director

 

 

Mercer County Regional Planning Commission
2491 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16148
mail@mcrpc.com    www.mcrpc.com

 

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