Zoning board approves parking lot plan
The Uniontown Zoning Hearing Board approved a special exception allowing the Stephen E. Kezmarsky Funeral Home to demolish a home and convert the lot into a parking lot for the business. Board members voted unanimously in favor of the exception Thursday.
Funeral home owner Stephen Kezmarsky III told the board that he has an agreement to buy the home at 66 Wilson Ave. and that he desperately needs the additional parking.
“We have a serious, serious parking problem,” Kezmarsky said.
The problem is the most serious at night when people park on the streets around the funeral home on Pennsylvania Avenue to attend events at Uniontown High School, churches and go to restaurants, Kezmarsky said.
He said he employs 10 people for valet parking to park vehicles in lots, which he has permission to use.
Kezmarsky said he once made his employees park on the street to make room for guest in his existing lot, but their vehicles were vandalized.
“This lot will help us tremendously,” he said.
The house and garage at 66 Wilson Ave. will be demolished, making room to park 15 to 20 cars, he said.
He said he will have both structures demolished and then pave the lot.
City code enforcement officer and Fire Chief Myron Nypaver said the lot measures 40-by-120 feet.
Kezmarsky said the sales agreement has three parts – Thomas W. Gerke will buy if from the current owner, Albert Sloan, and Kezmarsky will buy it from Gerke.
The motion approving the exception requires Kezmarsky to pave the lot within one of the demolition.
In unrelated business, Nypaver said he will prepare an amendment to the city’s ordinance governing business signs.
Nypaver said the current ordinance does not address electronic signs, which have become popular with businesses.
He said he will write provisions for electronic signs and present the amendment to City Council for approval.