‘It makes perfect sense.’ Possible solution could let farmers market stay put in College Township
An amendment to College Township zoning policies could mean a recently shuffled-around Amish farmers market will have a long-term home.
After relocating the seasonal market from the Hills Plaza parking lot to the State College Assembly of God this season, farmer Steven Wengerd thought the accessible and spacious church lot was a perfect new spot for the Tuesday and Thursday market. But township zoning rules prohibit markets — located on University Drive — from operating in residential areas.
Rather than bar the market from operating entirely, township staff issued a temporary zoning permit, giving the market 13 weeks — or until Sept. 5 — to vacate the lot. At last week’s council meeting, members discussed a potential solution that would extend the deadline and grant permission for the market to operate during future seasons.
“My hope is to create a win for our community and create a win for you by way of a solution to this,” Lead Pastor Steve Silliman told council members Thursday. “It’s amazing. He has a following that goes with him, and they’re very faithful. And he’s offering good products.”
Historically, churches saw peak traffic on Sundays, and the ordinance aims to regulate what is and is not permitted in residential areas now that programming has expanded into the week to reduce traffic and noise, councilman Eric Bernier said.
“I fielded a dozen or more phone calls from people ... inquiring why they can’t stay, and to me, it makes perfect sense,” College Township Zoning Officer Mark Gabrovsek said. “That’s an ideal location. ... It works well. It doesn’t seem to be anything intrusive upon the neighborhoods, but the zoning is what the zoning is.”
The proposed amendment would allow farmers markets to operate at churches and schools despite being zoned for residential development.
“It seems to me like if a school or a church is already existing, developed, owned by a body, then we’re fitting something that’s a similar use into an already used space,” councilwoman Carla Stilson said. “So, I don’t see concerns for all the usual concerns — parking, property values, children.”
A public hearing to discuss the modification will be held Aug. 20.
