Palmyra zoning board denies major variance request for apartment complex

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The Palmyra Borough Zoning Hearing Board on Feb. 9 denied a major variance request for two controversial proposed luxury apartment buildings on North Harrison and North Grant streets.

The decision comes after a five-hour hearing on Jan. 12 that recessed with no decision made.

Of the developer’s eight requested variances, two were denied — the request to substitute an existing nonconforming manufacturing or industrial use with a 160-unit multifamily residential use and accessory structure, and the request to permit building encroachments on the front, side, and rear yard setbacks, and to exceed the lot coverage and the maximum permitted building height.

Ryan Kelly voted against the motion to deny the substitution of a nonconforming use, but was outvoted 2-1. All other votes were unanimous.

The board approved the other variance requests, including allowing an alternate off-street parking standard of 224 off-street spaces for 160 units, allowing off-street parking to be located on separate premises, permitting encroachments into clear sight triangles, and permitting variances from off-street loading requirements, screening and landscaping requirements, and parking space design requirements.

Ventura Real Estate founder Jack DeCicco and his legal representative David Tshudy said they had no comment after the decision. Attorney Megan Huff, representing several nearby landowners, also said she had no comment.

Kelly said the hopeful developer will have to go back through the process with a revised plan if they want to move forward with building on the lots.

The January zoning hearing board meeting was standing-room only, with borough residents lining the back walls to listen to the hearing and share their thoughts on the proposed development. The most common concern they voiced was the requested parking guidelines, which would have allowed 1.4 parking spaces per unit, compared to the existing zoning order’s three spaces.

Other complaints revolved around the four-story building’s height, which was proposed to be higher than the borough’s ordinance allows, and increased traffic — especially during morning and evening hours, as people commute for work.

Cat rescue variances approved

The board also held a hearing for a proposed cat rescue at 740 W. Main St., and they unanimously approved the substitution of a nonconforming use at the lot that is zoned highway commercial and town residential.

Cocoa Kitties founder and director Kendra Daub said the nonprofit is based in Hershey, and they’re looking for a building to display some of their cats to the public. Currently, the rescues are housed at various foster homes between Lebanon and Dauphin counties.

Cait Clark, community engagement committee member with Cocoa Kitties, said people looking to adopt often like to meet several cats at once, which can be hard to coordinate when the animals are spread out between multiple homes. One building housing 8 to 12 cats at one time would let people visit multiple cats at once and could create opportunities for fundraising or small events.

Daub and Clark said Palmyra has a cat overpopulation issue, and the nonprofit organization does what they can to help.

Clark said she spent New Year’s Day traveling back and forth between her home and a trapping project at East Oak Street.

“We were going for one cat,” she said. “We ended up with 11, and we did provide [trap, neuter, vaccinate, and release] services for those.”

Daub added that the resident said there were at least 70 cats in the area.

When the zoning hearing board voted to allow the nonconforming use, visitors in the audience applauded.