Zoning variances approved
The Uniontown Zoning Hearing Board Thursday gave unanimous approval for two special exceptions.
The first hearing was for City Mission to construct three single-family rental homes on vacant property at 13 Herman St. According to the city’s zoning ordinance, there must be at least 6,000 square feet of land for each single family dwelling. The lot size provides only 5,600 square feet for each of the three homes, but, otherwise, meets all setback requirements, according to Dexter Smart of City Mission. Jim Knapp of K2 Engineering, the hearing board’s engineering firm, said there is enough land to provide adequate setbacks even if the property is later subdivided into three lots.
Smart said City Mission will retain ownership of the three cottage-style homes. According to Steve Turgeon, City Mission’s development consultant, each house will contain two bedrooms and one bath, along with front porches and a private driveway for each house. Each residence will measure 16 by 42 feet.
The second hearing was for a special exception for an Internet gun sales business to be located inside an existing auto repair shop at 318 E. Main St. Owner John Bootz Jr. said there will be no guns displayed on the premises, nor will there be any ammunition on hand for sale. All sales will be completed via the Internet, with Bootz’s business serving as the licensed firearms dealer for brokering deals. Bootz said he has two large, fire-proof gun safes that will be used to house any weapons temporarily on the property prior to the completion of transactions.
Attorney Kevin Clancy, who represented Bootz at the hearing, said the area of the business housing the Internet weapon sales will be secured from the rest of the building and equipped with a security system, as is currently available for the auto repair shop.
Clancy said that while there are two similar businesses already in operation in Uniontown, the special exception was sought because the Internet business did not fall specifically under the city’s ordinance for commercial properties.