PHOTO PROVIDED Lock Haven City Director of Permits and Licensing Cyndi Walker, left, speaks about the proposed amendment to the city’s Zoning Ordinance during Monday night’s meeting.

LOCK HAVEN — Lock Haven City Council unanimously approved an amendment to its zoning ordinance during its final March meeting.

The amendment adds multifamily dwellings as part of an age-qualified housing project or a veteran housing project as a permitted use by right in the low-density residential, medium-density residential and high-density residential zoning districts.

During a special meeting held in early March, which saw council preliminarily OK the proposed change, the city’s Directory of Permits and Licensing Cyndi Walker offered an explanation for the amendment.

Walker said the amendment was facilitated by an appeal brought to the Court of Common Pleas from a zoning hearing board in August 2024 by Third Street Associates. The business is looking to construct a new senior living facility at 342 Third Ave., at a former commercial building which has been vacant for years.

The board, at the time, denied a variance in relation to parking for age qualified housing within the city.

Following the denial, Third Street Associates filed an appeal with the courts. After the review, the decision made by the board was reversed and the company was granted the variance — which includes a change in the number of parking spaces per unit. Each unit would have 0.75 parking spaces.

Walker said following a court ruling in December, the city solicitor, Justin Houser, determined the court had expressed its displeasure that the city didn’t have a consistent process to approve or deny certain variances such as the one brought forward.

“It’s his opinion that the zoning ordinance to clarify the requirements for these types of uses would go a long way to uncomplicate matters,” Walker said at the special meeting. “That is the crux of this. We’ve had other appeals before the zoning hearing board that have been similar in nature that also had the potential to appeal in front of the court of common pleas. So, at the urging of the city solicitor, we looked into a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance itself.”

During this special meeting, city residents expressed their concerns about potential parking issues the possible 40-unit facility could bring.

On Monday night, no members of the public were in attendance to speak about the matter, which was brought before council for a final vote.

Prior to a vote, Walker provided updated information. She noted Council Member Jeff Brinker requested information from neighboring municipalities about how it handles variance requests related to parking.

Walker said she spoke with Gary Knarr, the director of zoning in Williamsport; and Ed LeClear, zoning director for State College Borough.

Walker said, in Williamsport, Knarr said parking requirements in its ordinance are for one space for every three dwelling units. She noted Williamsport’s ordinance is “less restrictive” than the city’s proposal in the amendment — which would see 0.75 spaces per unit, one visitor parking spot for every 10 units and one spot for employees.

“When I spoke to Mr. Knarr, he said that in his memory… he has never received any complaints and, to his knowledge, police have not received any complaints regarding parking on the street or added congestion because of the senior housing developments,” Walker said. “I asked him specifically if they intend to implement any changes to these parking requirements in the near future and his answer was no.”

LeClear’s responses were similar to Knarr’s, she said, though he noted senior housing wasn’t as common in State College — which is predominantly student housing.

The borough’s ordinance allows for 0.75 spaces per unit for elderly or disabled units. It further allows the borough to further reduce parking if circumstances exist.

“For example, you may reduce the parking of 0.75 spaces per unit by 10 percent for locations within the general commercial district,” she said. “It has about seven other criteria that would result in further reduction.”

LeClear also said his office hadn’t received complaints about a lack of parking in the area of its senior housing.

“Both he and Mr. Knarr said on several occasions there is more than enough vacant parking in each of these locations,” she said.

Prior to Walker’s presentation, the amendment was approved through a motion by Council Member Rick Conklin and seconded by Council Member Steve Stevenson.

According to City Manager Gregory Wilson, the amendment would go into effect immediately.