Borough to hold hearing on proposed apartment project

BY STACI WILSON

After nearly two hours of debate centering on the proposed conversion of a vacant business to apartments, Montrose Borough Council opted to schedule a formal hearing before acting on the permit request.

Tentative date for the hearing was set for Dec. 19.

Many of the 30-plus people in attendance voiced concerns about the conversion of the gym on Mill and High streets to apartments.

Project designer John Puzo, along with Kevin Dempsey attorney for property owner Alice Davis, brought council a revised design that remedied concerns voiced at the Nov. 21 meeting.

Single room occupancy units were eliminated and replaced by one, four-bedroom unit.

With one apartment on the premises already existing, the new proposed design brought the total number of units to seven.

The proposed conversion project was issued a change-of-use zoning permit by the borough on Sept. 8.

At the Nov. 21 meeting, council put the permit on hold – a measure that was extended by a Monday night council vote until the formal hearing can take place.

Lamont said that borough code states that no converted building can contain more than four dwelling units.

He said he didn’t think the lot size was large enough to address the density that would be created by a seven-unit building.

“Density is one of the problems I have,” Lamont said. “I am of the opinion it doesn’t go forward. It’s just too dense.”

Solicitor Marion O’Malley met privately with Dempsey and then called for council to meet in an executive session for pending litigation.

Following the executive session, O’Malley said council was not prepared to have a formal hearing on the matter at the Monday meeting.

She said she was certain that if council voted to revoke the permit, the decision would be appealed in court.

Council listened as those in attendance listed concerns they had regarding the project, which included parking issues, number of people who would live in the building, and who those people might be.

Borough resident Grady Slade said statements from council members regarding potential renters could be problematic.

“As professionals, it’s a thin line to walk. Some people could take (those statements) in a lot of different ways,” Slade said.

Others in attendance applauded council for taking a cautious approach to the proposed project’s change-of-use permit.

O’Malley said the formal hearing would, at least, result in an endpoint for the change-of-use permit with it either being approved or revoked.