Crowd attends zoning hearing

A proposal to reduce the density of people living in the Highlands neighborhood in State College Borough drew a standing-room only crowd that offered both praise and scrutiny for the members of State College Borough Council to consider last night.

-- Drew Hyman, State College Planning Commission Chairman

Building height would have to be within 20 percent of the average height of adjacent buildings with a maximum height of 35 feet. In addition, maximum lot coverage for buildings or other structures is restricted to 30 percent of the lot.

Also, there could be some rezoning in the Highlands area to create additional R-2 districts. R-2 districts allow for one- or two-person person dwellings where two unrelated people live, in addition to single-family dwellings.

State College Borough Planning Commission Chairman Drew Hyman said the borough's planning commission proposed these changes in the zoning ordinance to alter the rate at which single-dwelling homes are becoming rental properties and to reduce the density of people living within the area.

"We need to slow or stop the trend of the Highlands becoming totally rental," Hyman said.

Hyman, speaking on behalf of the borough planning commission, said the down-zoning would help to reduce density in certain areas of the Highlands and provide greater flexibility in the use of older homes for offices or other non-resident uses.

Diversity, the tax base and quality of life are some of the reasons Hyman gave for changing the Highland's zoning.

The amendment would not change the current conditions found in the Highlands, but only affect the possible new apartments available in the future.

Undergraduate Student Government Director of Town Affairs Jamie Klingler spoke against the proposed amendment on behalf of University students.

Klingler asked the council to consider the students and their choice of housing options when deciding on passing the amendment.

Klingler also said she is disappointed with what she has seen as an "annual zoning-fest" by the council.

"Our protesting and petitions didn't work last year with the student housing ordinance, and I'm trying to get them to see that they need to take the student voice into consideration once again," Klingler said after the meeting. "This is why voting in borough council elections was so important."

Council member Elizabeth Goreham said students are not going to be the central factor in deciding to pass the amendment or not.

"What we don't want is high density," Goreham said, "and we want to protect this historic neighborhood."

Borough council will hold another public hearing on the proposed amendment at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 17 at the State College Municipal Building. At that time, borough council can decide to table action, give the proposal back to the planning commission or authorize publication of its intent to pass the ordinance at a later date.