7 South Broad Street

Phone (717) 626-2044 7 South Broad Street Fax (717) 626-1329 Lititz, PA 17543 Borough of Lititz, Pennsylvania

Zoning Hearing Board Minutes May 19, 2014

The May 19, 2014 meeting of the Lititz Borough Zoning Hearing Board was called to order by Chairman Matthews at 7:00 PM. The meeting was opened with Silent Meditation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Zoning Hearing Board members present: Matthews, Kurtz, Olah, Westcott (Alt), Eberly (Alt) Zoning Hearing Board members excused: Learn, Landis Lititz Borough Council members present: S. Hain, C. VanBrookhoven Also present: Susan Peipher, Solicitor; Lori McEntarfer; Zoning Officer, Lisa Miller; Court Reporter, Jeff & Eileen Bowlby, Nicholas Anderson, Joe Minjock, Doug Pfautz

A motion to approve the April 21, 2014 minutes was made by Kurtz and seconded by Eberly. The minutes were unanimously approved, 5 – 0.

A request was made by Applicant Bowlby to have his case heard second. Zoning Hearing Board Chairman entertained the request and the hearing order was reversed for the two cases before the Board.

Case #1704 – Jack Batz – 511 W Marion Street Applicant had no issues with both alternates voting on the request. Applicant’s contractor presented his case to approve a Special Exception from Section 422 (Front Porch Additions) and a Variance from Section 207.C.2 (Lot & Yard Requirements, to reduce the required front yard setback to 27 feet) for the property located at 511 W Marion Street, within the R-1 Residential District.

Applicant described the proposed project, including that the porch will extend 8 feet from the front of the house and 3 feet into the front yard setback. The width of the porch will be approximately 23 feet wide, allowing for a one-foot setback from the common party wall property line. The porch will be fully contained on the property at 511 W Marion Street and will have siding to match the existing structure.

After a brief discussion, Kurtz made a motion to approve the request as testified, with the conditions that the front porch must be set back a minimum of 27 feet from the back of the existing sidewalk. The motion was seconded by Olah and approved unanimously, 5 – 0.

Case #1703 – Jeff & Eileen Bowlby – 248-250 S Spruce Street Applicant had no issues with both alternates voting on the variance request. Applicant presented his case to approve a Special Exception from Section 208.C.3 and 401 (Home Businesses, to operate a surveying business) and a Variance from Section 401.D.2 (Persons employed in Home Business, Section 301.B.4.a(2) (Maximum height of garage) and Section 301.B.4.a(4) (Garage setbacks) of the Lititz Borough Zoning Ordinance in the R-2 Residential District.

Testimony included that the owners would like to convert the existing two-family home back into a single family dwelling. Applicants are proposing to demolish and rebuild the garage to accommodate the business use, complete with bathroom facilities on the second floor. There would more than likely be no more than two employees in the work area at any given time. There would be an average of one to two cars parked at the site, with maybe three to four cars parked at the site on rainy days. The site is located on a corner property, with the side street being a stub street which is only minorly used for parking by neighbors.

It was suggested that the existing PPL pole and large bush, located at the corner of Marion Street and Maple Lane, will be relocated and removed respectively, to create a better sight distance, as the alley is used as a cut through by high school drivers. This corner is currently fairly treacherous.

An 8-1/2 x 11 inch non-illuminated sign is proposed to be displayed at the front of the property facing S Spruce Street.

Comments from Matthews and Olah suggested shifting the proposed garage a minimum of 5 feet from Maple Alley (rear yard setback) and two feet from the neighboring property at 246 S Spruce Street to allow for sight distance and maintenance.

Neighbor Doug Pfautz voiced concern over the position of the building, suggesting that the current open area of the neighboring back yards will be blocked by the building. Applicant agreed to stake proposed garage site to create a visual of the size and location and show Pfautz.

Neighbor Nick Anderson spoke in favor of the business, suggesting that it will have no additional impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

After a brief discussion, Kurtz made a motion to continue the request to the following month and keep the testimony open, in order to give the applicant some time to show the various options of placement for the garage to Pfautz. The motion was seconded by Eberly and unanimously approved, 5 – 0.

With no further items on the agenda for the evening, the hearing was adjourned at 8:10 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Lori McEntarfer Zoning Hearing Board Secretary

Cc: Zoning Hearing Board Council, Mayor Historical Area Advisory Committee Borough Manager Planning Commission