Council approves demolition for building

Code violations, permit issues cited

A long-vacant building on Valley Brook Road in Peters may be demolished as early as next week, despite pushback from the building’s owners.

Council voted 5-0 on Monday to approve a $23,809 contract with Mullen Excavating Inc. of Cecil for the demolition of 214 Valley Brook Road, commonly known as the St. Petersburg Center. Council members Monica Merrell and Gary Stiegel Jr. were absent.

Township officials said the dilapidated structure is in violation of the township’s property maintenance code and also said the owners, Ed and Susan Courtney, have not obtained the proper building permits for renovation of the structure.

According to the the Washington County assessment website, the Courtneys have owned the Valley Brook Road property since 1998.

Mrs. Courtney said it was rented to tenants until 2004.

Township Manager Paul Lauer said the Washington County Construction Appeals Board gave the Courtneys 60 days to file a building permit with the township. That was in July 2017.

“As of today, 826 days have passed,” Mr. Lauer said. “At this time, we’re not sure what it is the township can do to expect the site to be developed.”

In December 2018, the Courtneys said they would be renovating the building — changing it from a two-story structure to a one-story building with a pitched roof, and adding a 27-foot wall covered with plantings so it would blend in with the Montour trail.

In February, council sought bids for the demolition of the structure, but rejected the bids and gave the Courtneys until May 1 to obtain a building permit.

Mr. Courtney told council and township officials he has been “doing everything I can to get this building permit.”

Mrs. Courtney added they applied for a permit with the state Department of Environmental Protection in April and in June they were assigned an engineer to work with them on the property.

She said they have applied for a building permit but they have had to wait for DEP approvals.

“We have completed everything possible,” she said.

Council member James

Berquist told the Courtneys the township has “bent over backward to try to accommodate you and your development.”

Township planning director Ed Zuk said that although the Courtneys have submitted some building plans, “they are not complete.” He added he has sent letters to the Courtneys “multiple times” asking for completed plans, but has not received them.

Mr. Lauer said the entire building will be torn down.