As many as 100 local fraternity members could pack the State College Borough Council chambers tonight to protest a proposed zoning change essential to the construction of the Hillel office-apartment building.

Claiming that a new apartment building will cause parking, traffic and noise problems, members of six fraternities located around the proposed Highland Avenue construction site say they plan to voice their opposition at tonight's borough planning commission hearing.

"We're hoping to pack that place and make it SRO (standing room only) and show our vehement disapproval of the zoning change proposal," said Craig Hillwig, a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity located at 229 Locust Lane, The proposed six-floor, 85-unit building, would replace the closed and dilapidated Hillel building at 224 Locust Lane. The Hillel Foundation, which owns the property, would receive 6,000 square feet of office space in the new building.

The commission decided to hold the hearing after area residents and fraternity members expressed concern about the impact of the proposed construction at a Nov. 18 meeting, said borough planning director Carl Hess.

Commission members will use public opinion to help form a recommendation in February to the Borough Council, which holds the final decision, Hess said.

Presently, the borough planning commission is considering a request to re-zone the property from R-2, a low-density residential district, to R-O, a residential office zone, Hess said.

Without the zone change, the apartment building and offices cannot be constructed.

"At the last meeting I thought that we were getting close to approval until a couple of people stood up and spoke up," said Richard Kalin, a partner with Penn Hill Associates, the building's developer.

Members from 28 fraternities signed a petition opposing the proposed zone change at a recent Interfraternity Council meeting, said Rob Bowman, a member of Triangle fraternity, 226 E. Beaver Ave. He said several fraternities have also sent letters to the borough planning commission opposing the change.

Bowman said a new apartment building would create daily traffic jams on Highland Avenue and the one-way Locust Lane. He added that overflow from the apartments' parking garage would end up illegally in fraternity parking lots.

George Parizek, a member of Acacia fraternity, 234 Locust Lane, said his house collected signatures from 32 area homeowners who oppose the zone change. About 60 members may attend the hearing to protest the proposal, he said.

"We're making it mandatory that all our brothers attend the meeting," he said.

About 50 Delta Upsilon fraternity members signed a similar petition and as many as 30 may attend the hearing in protest, Hillwig said.

Hess said he hopes to hear arguments both for and against the zone change at tonight's hearing.

"So far I haven't heard anybody in favor of (the zone change) except the developer," he said. "Hopefully if people are in favor of the change, they can speak up."

Kalin, who will represent the developer at the hearing along with the building's architect, said he is confident the commission will approve the zone change. He said the Hillel property is located in an "intensive development" district, as defined by the State College section of the Centre Region's Comprehensive Plan.

"It's compatible with what the planners have been saying for years," Kalin said.

Planners last month considered extending the zone change over a one-acre lot, which encompasses other houses. But because of public opposition, planners decided to limit the zone change to the Hillel property, Hess said.

Landowners within the one acre lot, concerned that a property tax hike could accompany the zone change, spoke out against it. Hess said that taxes could go up after property re-assessment under the new ordinance.