Mercer County Regional Planning Commission, Hermitage, Pennsylvania

 

Zoning & Subdivision Review Committee

Meeting Minutes

Tuesday – August 17, 1999 – 7:30 p.m.
Hermitage City Building

MEMBERS PRESENT    

OTHERS PRESENT

Samuel Scott, Chairman 

Lisa Holm, Planner

James Rollinson, Vice-Chairman 

Julie Widel, Assistant Director

Clifford McCandless 

Denis Ranalli, GBS

James L. Hogan  

Gecker Saad, GBS

 

Gecker Meyers, GBS

 

Richard & Barbara Mild

 

Guy & Peggy Ruggles

 

Regina Ehrhart

 

George Mauir, GBS

 

Don Sebastian

 

Chet Burger

 

Karen Coates, The Herald

 

John Regule

 

Robert A. Bishop

 

Chuck Hoyt

                                    

Mr. Scott, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. A quorum was not present. A motion was made by Mr. McCandless and seconded by Mr. Hogan to approve the Minutes of the July 20, 1999 meeting as mailed with no additions, corrections or deletions. The motion passed.

N E W B U S I N E S S

1. Rezoning Request – City of Hermitage – Map Amendment – Ms. Holm reviewed this with the Committee. She stated that this request for rezoning is for the property located west of Route 18 and between Morefield Road and U.S. Route 62, currently zoned R-1-100 Residential and OBD – Office Business District. The request is to rezone the property to CC-1 Central Commercial District to allow for a retail center use in the area. She noted that the current use of the property is primarily vacant, with an old gas station along Route 62 and there are two single-family residences on the site along Morefield Road. The site is basically flat to gently sloped toward the southwest and the soils are Frenchtown. She noted that there have been large quantities of fill debris deposited on the site. She also noted the surrounding land uses: there are single-family homes on the west (Koonce Road); three franchise restaurants are located on Route 18 in the existing CC-1 zone to the east; Morefield Road is on the south side and has a church and single-family homes; and Route 62 (Shenango Valley Freeway) westbound borders the north side of the site.

Ms. Holm next reviewed the zoning amendment review criteria. She stated that this would be consistent with community and county planning objectives. County comprehensive plan mentions this are as a special study area; Hermitage comprehensive plan targets this area s zoned by ordinance however the recent Route 18 Study targets the area s Regional Commerce District allowing for mixes of uses including retail and franchise developments. She stated that the area is already well traveled and established as a commercial center and infrastructure is available along Route 18 and Morefield Road. She also stated that other sites are available in other zones under conditions. Development is occurring in all directions including residential and commercial. More Office Business district is also available.

In discussion, Mr. Ranalli, Land Use Consultant for GBS Development gave a brief commentary on the basis of this rezoning proposal. Also, a number of people spoke on different items such as wetlands, underground coal mines and the possible impact that this would put on the neighborhood.

After further discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Hogan and seconded by Mr. McCandless to recommend approval of this rezoning request. The motion passed with Mr. Rollinson abstaining.

2. Rezoning Request – City of Hermitage – Text Amendment – Ms. Holm reviewed this with the Committee. She noted that this request is to change the maximum lot coverage within the Institutional Zoning District from 25% to 30% coverage. She stated that this was requested by a group of landowners in the Institutional Zoning District. Basically, this request would increase the lot coverage, which would allow larger buildings on each of the properties.

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

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to conduct, the meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa Holm,

Planner

 

 

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

 

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