Phi Delta Theta alumnus Sandy Deveney walked out of the State College Borough Planning Commission meeting Wednesday giving high fives and smiling.
Deveney's celebration came after the planning commission voted against a proposed amendment to its fraternity zoning ordinance that would prohibit on-campus fraternities from becoming rooming houses if they lose their charters.
Concern about the issue arose after the former Phi Delta Theta fraternity lost its charter but continued to house students at its 240 N. Burrowes Road property.
Several members of the commission saw no logic in adopting the amendment.
"There's no reason to ban rooming houses [on campus]," commission member Michael Roeckel said. "It's already filled with rooming houses. They're called dormitories."
Planning director Carl Hess refuted Roeckel point by noting that any housing currently on campus is directly connected with the university. By allowing rooming houses, the commission would be inviting unaffiliated individuals to live on campus, Hess said.
But Hess's argument was moot once commission chairman Evan Myers explained even if rooming houses weren't allowed on campus, the ordinance would still permit unaffiliated residents to live there.
"The current ordinance allows other uses for the buildings other than for fraternities," he said. "One of the uses allows a fraternity to become a hotel or an office building [if shut down]."
In the end, the commission decided against the amendment and left the ordinance as is. State College Borough Council could still approve the change to the zoning code independently, officials said.
For Deveney, the decision was the right choice.
"I think they're trying to do the right thing. It obviously needs work," he said. "I think it's a win-win for everybody."
Another ordinance involving fraternities was discussed at the meeting as well, pertaining to what the definition of a fraternity should encompass.
At a previous State College Borough Council meeting, Borough Council President Elizabeth Goreham suggested the definition be changed to include the Interfraternity Council (IFC) in the process of creating new borough-recognized fraternities.
Zoning officer Herman Slaybaugh said the borough staff was unsure if further IFC involvement was a good idea for the process.
"We caution that by writing the IFC into the ordinance, the argument can be made that you're delegating them formal authority," he said.
Slaybaugh explained there are several other governing bodies associated with greek life, such as the Panhellenic Council. Singling out the IFC could create problems in the future, he said.
"Staff is simply saying don't mention the IFC in the ordinance," he said. "If you write it more broadly, you don't have to worry about that eventuality."
After much discussion, the commission settled the debate by sending the ordinance back to the borough staff for further revision.
"What we proposed to council isn't as clear as it needs to be," Myers said. "We want to get this right and not rush it. We need to clean it up and do something with it."
