READING, Pa. – Reading City Council held an evidentiary hearing Monday night to consider a proposed zoning map amendment related to GoggleWorks Center for the Arts properties.
The applicant for the zoning amendment is Our City Reading LLC. It has requested to change the zoning designation from R-3 Residential to the C-C Commercial Core district at a portion of the GoggleWorks property at 229, 243 and 245 Washington St.
Council solicitor Michael Gombar said the purpose of the request is to support the GoggleWorks II project and to include the parcels in the same zoning district as the existing GoggleWorks building.
Scott Miller, a civil engineer representing Our City Reading, said the city had granted a special exception for proposed residential units to be in the building at 229 Washington St.
“As part of the process, they purchased the two adjoining properties at 243 and 245 Washington Street,” Miller explained. “The existing buildings were demoed, and that area was taken up by mechanical space that was needed and some additional open space for the project.”
Jerome Skrincosky, a consulting engineer for the city, explained that the city’s planning commission approved the annexation and development plan for the project with a condition of approval being that the applicant seek a zoning amendment to have the entire property under the same zoning district.
The non-profit acquired the property as part of its revitalization and expansion project.
One member of the public attended to comment on the proposed change.
Pastor Evelyn Morrison said it’s important that the city understands that the sites were adjacent to the Wilson Safety Products, and when Wilson closed, there was a brownfields assessment done.
“In fact, the entire four blocks were considered brownfields, so there had to be an [Environmental Protection Agency] assessment done,” Morrison said.
Morrison questioned whether an EPA assessment has been done within the last year.
“The other thing I’m concerned about is when R-3 moves into commercial, you’re going to have a lot of activity,” she commented. “When the full flourishing of the GoggleWorks becomes fully functional, it’s going to be not only a traffic issue, but it’s also going to be water and sewer assessment issue.”
“With an increase of water and sewer and the infrastructure, you’re going to have a number of issues that were not considered at this point,” Morrison said. “I support anything that is good for the public in which they enjoy, but the bill of rights says that everyone who owns a property should have peaceful enjoyment of that property. I hope it’s for the good, and I hope that it doesn’t create a problem into the future.”
Miller said throughout the entire process all regulations were followed, and he never found a need to have an EPA assessment done.
Gombar said council could introduce an ordinance for the zoning map amendment on March 9 and vote on the matter at its March 23 meeting.