Could allow residential use in vacant commercial properties

            East Greenville Council is considering a zoning amendment for properties along Main Street. On Monday, the members agreed to move forward with a proposal offering relief for property owners looking to convert retail spaces on ground floor properties to residential uses.

            The intent of the adjustment is to help fill otherwise vacant spaces, according to council President Angie Fegely. Members expressed a willingness to maintain the Borough Commercial zone on Main Street, which runs from the 200 block to the middle of the 400 block.

            The residential use would qualify as a conditional use and would require approval from council, according to Solicitor Michael Peters. Fegely said the borough's planning commission favors the proposal.

            Currently, property owners are required to prove a hardship in order to earn a variance from the borough's zoning hearing board, according to Manager Jim Fry. He said that if council changes the ordinance, owners would only be required to meet certain conditions.

            Two property owners have recently applied for a zoning variance. One applicant was denied and the other decision is pending, according to Fry.

            He cited a few retail vacancies on Main Street, including the former home of Java Good Day Cafe at 231 Main St. The manager said a handful of those properties could be converted into apartments.

            Member Melissa Leinbach wondered if the elimination of retail space would hurt current business owners. She said small business owners benefit from the presence of similar entities.

            "Once a property is converted to residential from business, it's not going back," said Leinbach, who owns the Gemini Hair Salon, located next to Borough Hall, at 200 Main St. "I'd like to hear what the public has to say."

            Peters told the members that he and Fry would present something more concrete at the next council meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, March 2.

            During the meeting, the members also approved the payment of two contracts for ADA improvements at the borough's police station. Except for the installation of two exterior handrails, the work to make a bathroom at the former Colonial Village Clubhouse wheelchair accessible is substantially complete, according to an email message from Fry.

            Federal funds, allocated through a Community Development Block Grant made available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will cover the work. John Membrino, a Hereford based contractor, is being paid $60,450 to complete the work.

            The manager wrote Tuesday that the pay requests were based upon the amount of work completed last Wednesday. Since then, most of the work is complete and the area is being used, according to the manager. Gerhart said he is planning on holding an open house at the building in the near future, located on Colonial Drive.

            "I want the public to see what the building looks like now compared to how it looked before," the mayor said.

            In July of 2017, the previous council awarded a $159,021 contract to Membrino to convert the building into a police station. Municipal officials opened the facility three months later.

            "I'm not sure where the money went for the first renovation," Fegely said during the meeting.

            Council approved contract payments of $26,837.50 and $23,227.50 for the current work. It also approved two change orders. The first, worth $325, is necessary to install supplemental baseboard electric heat in each bathroom. The other calls for $400 to upgrade the floor tile to a more durable type.

            The members voted unanimously to spend up to $5,500, which is included in the 2020 budget, for the purchase of new Christmas decorations. A few samples were on display in the meeting room. Municipal officials expect to purchase 10 fixtures for nine light poles, according to Member Joe Rock.

            The Borough of East Greenville Police Department responded to 84 calls in January, according to information provided by Gerhart. The incidents included 58 for traffic, 54 others, 12 for public service, five parking, four accidents, four assists, two animals and one theft, domestic and DUI.