Council approves re-zoning request in hopes to spur housing development

ST. MARYS - St. Marys City Council recently approved an application to re-zone a portion of land as residential flexible (RF) in an effort to encourage potential housing development.

The land encompasses 23 acres off of Bucktail Road behind the shopping plaza under the address of 681 Clover Hill. The property is owned by Jason Auman and Gerard Auman with the re-zoning application submitted under AI Property Holdings, Inc. at 165 Rustic Lane in St. Marys.

Matt Pfeufer, zoning/ code enforcement officer, presented the topic to city council who approved the re-zoning request with the only opposing vote cast by Councilman Ned Jacob.

The re-zoning application was reviewed by the St. Marys Planning Commission during their regular meeting on February 8, however a motion to recommend approval of the application died for a lack of a second therefore no recommendation was made as to the application. Council reported the Planning Commission conducted an extensive discussion on the topic after reviewing their meeting notes and comments. Councilman Andrew Mohney stated his disappointment in reading some of the commission’s comments which he said could be misconstrued as discrimination under the city’s fair housing notice.

“I think the biggest misconception that many don’t understand is what low income housing is,” Mohney said.

According to Mohney low income in Pennsylvania is considered to be a yearly wage of around $68,000 while the median income in Elk County is around $78,000.

“I’m guessing 83% of the county is low income along with many people sitting on our city boards and commissions,” Mohney said, expressing his frustration that more people

serving on city entities are not aware of this information that can be easily obtained online.

In his re-zoning application letter to the city, Jason Auman stated by having the property re-zoned as residential flexible would allow houses to be placed closer to each other to save room and get the most of the land and all the utilities.

“I also believe there is a high demand for housing in this area. A quiet little neighborhood up on that hill would be nice for this town and its people,” Auman wrote in the letter. He added that some of the local factories are looking to bring in hundreds more people to work, however there are currently not enough housing options available.

Auman noted the potential revenue for the city if 100 families moved to that area of town. “I would like to work with the city to change the zoning and have people move to St. Marys instead of other places,” the letter reads. Auman added while he is unsure of the exact number of houses that could be built on the property, the cost of installing utilities will be expensive thus the ideas of having smaller lots and more homes accessing them makes more sense to him than other options.

Mohney said the reality is the population and tax base are declining and if the area is rezoned the city can make money while addressing the issue of the need for affordable housing in the St. Marys.

Councilwoman Sally Geyer voiced her agreement with Mohney noting there are limited living options for new residents moving to the city. Councilman Jerry Sorg stated there is a need for housing in the area.

While Pfeufer said there are extensive residential flexible zoned areas in the city, a majority of those have already been developed. Councilman Shane Schneider stated it is not cost effective to develop single family homes, thus supporting this option.