The State College Centre Regional Planning Commission recommended amending a zoning ordinance that would allow bed and breakfast establishments in multi-family residential districts at its meeting last night.

"People are generally opposed to older, single-family homes being converted into multi-apartments because of noise and keeping the walks clean," Planning Director Carl Hess said. "Typically bed and breakfasts don't create those types of disruptions in the neighborhood."

The amended ordinance would give homeowners in the district, which is near campus and the downtown, the option to become bed and breakfast facilities instead of apartment complexes.

Currently, zoning laws limit bed and breakfast establishments to a total of two unrelated guests or one family. The amendment would allow homeowners to have up to two unrelated guests or one family in each room of their homes. The amendment allows a maximum of six rooms per home.

Renters could stay in the establishment no more than 7 days in a 30-day period. Owners may only provide breakfast to renters or obtain the necessary permits from the State College Health Department to serve other meals.

Planning Commission member Baiba Briedis asked Hess if the ordinance would mean that a family with six children could stay in one room, but three "traditionally not very wealthy" graduate students would have to get two rooms because only two unrelated people are allowed per room.

Hess said that statement was true.

"The purpose is to prevent these rooms from becoming boarding houses," he said. "If we make the rules more liberal, we'll end up with an enforcement problem and we'll have bed and breakfasts turn into rooming houses."

Planning commission staff members proposed the ordinance after a home on Burrowes Street, which used to house mentally-disabled citizens, was put up for sale, Hess said.

"It would be a shame if it would be chopped up into apartments and not well maintained," he said.

Hess said a seven-story building with 100-apartment units is across the street and a townhouse is next door. These buildings make it unlikely that a buyer would use the property as a single-family residence, he said.

The ordinance would also provide an alternative to hotels, which often book rooms a year in advance.

"I don't think we're going to get 25 applications," Hess said. "But we'll probably get a half a dozen over the next few years. If we don't allow it, we'll get none."