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A local developer has submitted a preliminary plan for a new residential and commercial building on South Atherton Street in State College, but borough staff intend to deny the plan as drafted based on zoning requirements.
Planning Director Ed LeClear said he expects attorneys for the borough and developer to eventually reach an agreement to resolve the issues, but that will have to come after an appeal of the denial. Borough staff don’t have the authority to approve the plan as it stands, he said.
Developer Bob Poole has proposed a four-story building at 734 S. Atherton St. that would have commercial space on the first floor and 144 one- and two-bedroom apartments primarily geared toward students on the upper three floors.
Hotel State College & Co. is seeking approval from State College Borough for a seasonal walkway that would support outdoor dining at Bill Pickle’s Taproom during warm weather months while also improving pedestrian access along South Allen Street.
The “pedlet,” would be in place from spring to fall within the two parking spaces directly in front of the 106 S. Allen St. tavern, connecting to the sidewalk and going around the Pickle’s seasonal outdoor deck.
In 2017, borough council approved a three-year agreement for Pickle’s to have an outdoor dining area extending into the sidewalk from April through the end of October. The deck allowed for a 5-foot clearance at the narrowest point on the sidewalk.