Zoning board to allow barn to be converted into apartments
The Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board voted Wednesday to grant a special exception to allow the conversion of an old barn and milk house in North Union Township into apartments. Current owner Gary Swegal was granted the special exception for apartments on property zoned R-1 medium density residential. The buildings were formerly the location of L.R. Lloyd Roofing Co. and originally part of the Thompson farm.
During a hearing on the matter in April, numerous neighbors spoke out against the request, citing concerns about subsidized housing, increased traffic and transient people moving in and out of the area. During the hearing, developer Donald Kilgore of Smock testified that he plans to gut the inside of the buildings and turn them into luxurious one-bedroom apartments that will include 11/2 baths, a kitchen and laundry room. Kilgore said the larger barn will have five to six apartments and the smaller milk house will have three to four units.
Kilgore testified that he would rent the apartments for about $800 per month.
In granting the special exception, the ZHB made the stipulation that the apartments cannot be rented out as subsidized housing units.
In other old business, the ZHB also approved a special exception for a neighborhood business, a beauty shop, for property zoned R-2 medium density residential in Dunbar Borough. Charles T. Stefanick plans to rent the space to Mary Kay Wolfe, who currently operates a beauty shop in the borough.
During the hearing on the matter in April, two neighbors said they didn’t object to the business, but two other neighbors spoke out against the proposal.
The beauty shop will be located in half of a duplex. Wolfe testified that she is the only employee, with the exception of a temporary employee who works on Saturday and she will have two to 10 clients on an average day. Wolfe also testified that the site will be handicapped accessible and will have eight parking spaces for clients.
Both decisions were made with a 2-0 vote with Charles Cieszynski and Leon Evans voting in favor of the motions.
The ZHB also approved a variance from side setback requirements for a business in North Union Township and a special exception for a home occupation for a medical auditing service in German Township following hearings held Wednesday afternoon.
Fairchance Construction Company was granted a 33.68-foot variance from setback requirements on property zoned B-1 general business in North Union Township. The property in question is owned by WSW Holdings and is the site of the former Mark Thompson Beer Distributor building on Connellsville Street. The SenSyTech Inc. operation currently at a hangar at the Connellsville Airport is moving to the facility.
Engineer Terry McMillen Sr. testified that plans are to construct a new 4,300-square-foot addition to the building, which will not conform with the current 80-foot side setback requirements. The ZHB ruled in August to allow the business, which includes light assembly and electronic testing work.
The ZHB approved a request from Kathleen Watson of McClellandtown to operate a medical auditing service out of her home. Watson was granted a special exception for the A-1 agricultural rural zoned property.
Watson said she will have one employee and all business will be handled through the mail. She said there will be no additions or alterations to her home, which will house the office.