STATE COLLEGE — A new zoning district in the borough could marry commercial and residential opportunities in the Hamilton Square and Westerly Parkway shopping plazas.
The Planning Commission discussed the idea this week, continuing its look at a staff proposal to ensure the CP-2 planned commercial zone retains mostly commercial uses as the borough grows and develops further. That district now permits myriad uses, including single- and multifamily homes, student homes, schools, adult care homes and a wide variety of businesses.
Current CP-2 zones also include the State College Area High School South Building, properties at University Drive and Bellaire Avenue, and the Meridian apartments at the end of East Beaver Avenue. Other zones are along South Atherton Street, including the Ramada Conference Center and the Autoport restaurant.
While the two shopping centers, which sit less than a mile apart, currently are zoned CP-2, Planning Commission members discussed the possibility of placing them in a new zone that could address redevelopment opportunities. The group also may consider changes to the CP-2 zone that will ensure it remains primarily commercial if properties are redeveloped.
Planning Director Carl Hess offered several options for the latter, including completely removing residential uses from CP-2 or reducing the residential density, currently substantial at 87 dwelling units per acre.
“Even though we would want commercial in the CP-2 zone, unless you mandate it, you could get noncommercial, residential uses,” he said. As an example, he said a property owner considered turning a closed convenience store on Bellaire Avenue into five townhomes.
Commission members agreed the Westerly and Hamilton shopping centers are important components of those neighborhoods and supported zoning specific to them, which could offer a mix of commercial and residential.
“If it were to become more residential than commercial, I think it would have a detrimental affect on that portion of the borough,” said Rich Kalin, noting that many residents are able to walk to the Weis Markets grocery store on Westerly Parkway.
Jon Eich suggested keeping commercial uses on the first floor of the shopping centers, and allowing residential dwellings on second and third floors.
Though Mike Roeckel suggested creating neighborhoods of small, single-family properties, he later agreed that separating the shopping centers from other commercially zoned sites may be a good idea, and supported spreading out student apartments.
“One of the things that makes State College a viable place to live is the small neighborhoods,” he said. “I think we have to look at how we can create neighborhoods in State College.”
Jessica VanderKolk can be reached at 235-3910.
