STATE COLLEGE

Zoning changes rejected

Measures would lower cap on downtown building heights, require step-backs

By Mike Joseph

STATE COLLEGE — In split votes Monday, council rejected zoning law changes that would have added restrictions to redevelopment projects in the 300 and 400 blocks of East College Avenue.

In a separate matter, and over the objections of two homeowners, council acted on short notice to approve a regional parks request to realign a portion of a bike path on State College Area School District property to accommodate the coming but delayed Welch pool.

The zoning votes left intact a 145-foot height cap for signature buildings east of Garner Street and turned back a proposal to establish a step-back requirement for any part of a building higher than 40 feet along East College Avenue between Garner and Hiester streets.

The greater restrictions would have altered zoning for the area adopted in November 2007. Councilman James Rosenberger, arguing against the new proposals, said that “changing zoning every year doesn’t seem like a good idea to me if we want long-range planning to occur.”

Ron Filippelli added: “Step-backs are disincentives for redevelopment of the area. We need to be careful about tinkering with zoning that creates disincentives.”

Don Hahn, arguing for the greater restrictions, said he wanted to “avoid a repeat of Beaver Canyon and make the area more pedestrian-friendly.” He was supported by council President Elizabeth Goreham, who said that “we do want the result (of redevelopment) to be attractive to our downtown.”

The vote was 5-2 to reject the 125-foot height limit, with Hahn and Goreham in the minority, and 4-3 to reject the step-back provision, with Silvi Lawrence joining Hahn and Goreham in the minority.

Borough businessman Charles Herlocher is considering a tall building with a boutique-style hotel, rooftop gardens and owner-occupied condominiums. A 145-foot height limit could accommodate a building with 12 stories, or possibly more.

Jody Alessandrine, executive director of the Downtown State College Improvement District, praised the council’s decisions.

“If we all want the type of development we say we want,” he said, “we have to continue to encourage that to be the area where there is density. It’s cost-prohibitive to do a six-story building.”

Council voted 7-0 to approve a Centre Region Parks and Recreation request to realign the Orchard Park bike path to the west, away from

the planned new Welch pool and toward South Sparks Street, to make additional sunbathing areas as well as additional shaded areas on the pool grounds. The bike path realignment will also require school district approval.

The existing pool uses 1.04 acres of the 3.23 acres the regional parks authority leases from the school district. With the bike path moved toward the perimeter of the area, the new pool would be able to use 2.21 of the 3.23 acres.

South Sparks Street residents Ralph Heimer and Kathy Suhey, whose backyards face the pool grounds, objected. Heimer said the Welch pool will grow into a “sizable water park” that will add to noise.

“A regional pool is being plunked down in the middle of the borough,” he said.

The Welch pool renewal process is already weeks behind schedule because the school board couldn’t decide until April on a parking issue.

Pool bidding, originally scheduled for last week, has been put off until Aug. 3. The start of construction, originally scheduled for Aug. 4, is now scheduled for Sept. 28. An 10-month construction period at Welch pool would end July 1, 2010. The original schedule had the new Welch pool opening in June 2010.

Mike Joseph can be reached at 235-3910.