The proposed project site at 320 Reily St., Harrisburg.
An apartment building proposed for Harrisburg faced a setback this week, as the zoning board turned down parking relief for the project.
The Zoning Hearing Board on Monday approved a special exception and variance application for a 144-unit building proposed for 320 Reily St. However, that approval excluded relief from parking requirements.
The project, proposed by Harrisburg-based GreenWorks Development, would include 160 parking spaces, located in lots at 1511 N. 3rd St. and 1530 N. 4th St. The developer requested parking relief, as city code requires 191 spaces for a project of this scope.
The three-member board denied the requested relief for those 31 spaces, while approving the rest of the project.
GreenWorks originally proposed the project in 2021 and received zoning relief. However, because they did not subsequently file a land development plan, their prior approval expired. Since then, GreenWorks updated the plan to include 11 fewer units and almost doubled the amount of proposed parking.
The board stepped out of the room to discuss its decision on the proposal in private and did not provide justification for its decision.
However, board member Claude Phipps mentioned that the developers could consider reducing the number of apartments to diminish the number of required parking spaces or bring forward a new request for relief.
“We want 100% compliance in that area,” Phipps said. “They need to stay within the code requirements for parking; that’s what we’re saying.”
The board also is requiring that the project have an easement or deed restriction to link the off-site parking lots to the project site for use by the apartment building’s tenants only.
Several city residents attended the meeting to share input on the project, with one woman also voicing concern over parking.
“Generally my concern is assuming that each unit will only have one car,” resident Rachelle Lowe said. “I don’t know that that is realistic because of visitors. I just want to make sure that parking is adequate.”
A few other residents spoke in support of the project and the requested relief.
“Parking mandates prevent homeowners, business owners and developers from being able to make decisions based on what they need,” said William Rowe. “Unnecessary parking is also a poor use of valuable real estate in a city like Harrisburg.”
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