Fay-Penn pitches student housing again
Fay-Penn Economic Development Council is hoping that the third time will be a charm regarding a quest to have a developer build student-housing units on property beside Penn State Fayette Campus. Penn State has officially voiced objections to the proposal from the Canonsburg company of Millcroft Industries Inc. to construct four three-story buildings to rent to up to 168 full time students.
Earlier this year the Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board denied a request for a use variance on the property. That ruling is under appeal.
In November, the Fayette County Planning Commission voted unanimously against recommending the rezoning to the county commissioners, who will ultimately make the decision on the request.
During Monday’s public hearing, Fayette County commissioner Ronald M. Nehls heard testimony regarding the petition to have 18.88 acres rezoned from A-1 agricultural rural to B-1 general business along Route 119.
Fay-Penn attorney Ernest P. DeHaas III testified that the property is part of the 32-acre property that has been designated for the University Technology Park, acquired from Penn State in March 2002.
The property is located in the tax-free Keystone Opportunity Zone. DeHaas said because of the topography, the property is not suited for construction of buildings that are generally constructed in a technology park. He said the B-1 zone would be consistent with property along Route 119, which includes business, commercial and industrial developments.
DeHaas said there is a need for housing units because they would make the university site more attractive to potential students. He said full-time students at the Laurel Business Institute and West Virginia Career College could also live in the units. DeHaas said the zoning ordinance doesn’t have a definition for student housing.
Even if the proposed housing units do not come to fruition, DeHaas said the property still needs to be rezoned to B-1 because of the need for a business to be located at the site to supplement the technology park.
When Nehls asked Dave Bukovan, zoning chief of the county Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development, if it would be spot zoning, Bukovan said the property meets the minimum acreage requirement of 5 acres and the surrounding area is industrial and business. He said a more accurate area of spot zoning would be the B-1 property owned by Penn State.
Under questioning from Penn State attorney Michael J. Macko, DeHaas said the property was acquired after the initial tract that was designed for the technology park.
Macko said when Fay-Penn approached the university about acquiring the land, they believed it was for use in the technology park and not as a site for student housing. He said Penn State might not have agreed to sell if officials knew about the proposal.
DeHaas said the developer sought the site for student housing and approached Fay-Penn with the proposal and not vice versa.
Macko said a housing project won’t result in long-term growth for the county, an assessment that DeHaas disputed by saying that if students living in the housing get internships in the businesses in the technology park and then full-time jobs, they will move to Fayette county and help the economy.
Macko said without Penn State running the units there could be confusion about who is responsible for the security and safety of those living there because they are so close to the campus. He added that Penn State Fayette is a designated commuter facility.
DeHaas said it will be clear to whoever is renting the units that they are not run by Penn State. He questioned how far Penn State’s influence stretches and said a private developer has a right in a free enterprise system to build student housing. He said the units should enhance the technology park.
Fay-Penn construction and property manager Bob Opel said he believes having the housing units near the campus is a “win-win situation for everyone involved.” He said out-of-county students will be drawn to attend the campus and could potentially get internships in businesses in the park that could lead to full time employment.
DeHaas said businesses surrounding technology parks have to support the parks.
Nehls clarified with Bukovan that the only issue he has to decide is whether or not the petition meets the criteria needed to rezone. He said the concerns of Penn State shouldn’t be a factor in the decision.
Nehls said the request will be listed on the agenda of today’s meeting. If the request were approved, Fay Penn would still need to receive a special exception from the ZHB.