Aug 12, 2013 4 min read

WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg Borough council took no action Monday on a proposal to lease a borough parking lot to the owner of the old county office building as part of plan to convert the building into a 28-unit apartment building.

John McNay, the building’s owner, and Martin Padezanin, a contractor, plan to convert the long-vacant building into apartments but need 42 parking spaces to meet requirements of the borough zoning ordinance.

The developers have proposed leasing the spaces in the borough parking lot on Strawberry Alley, about a block away. A variance is needed from the zoning board because the ordinance requires parking be within 50 feet of the building.

At a zoning board hearing last week, Padezanin asked for a continuance to allow him to complete arrangements for the parking, which included receiving approval from council for leasing the lot and from the county, which now has the lease on it.

Commissioner Charles Morris, who attended the meeting, said the commissioners had met with McNay and McNay had asked the county to consider giving up the lease so he could then enter into a lease with the borough for the lot.

The commissioners proposed instead entering into an agreement with McNay under which the county will retain the lease but sublease space to McNay when McNay completes the renovations and receives an occupancy permit for the building, Morris said. This arrangement must still be reviewed by the county solicitor, he said.

If the county proceeds with that plan, council might not have a say in the matter, borough solicitor Linda Chambers said.

The county will be able to sublease the lot without council’s approval unless its lease with the borough specifically prohibits subleasing, she said. Chambers said she would review the lease.

The decision regarding the variance for parking also is not one council can make, but is up to the zoning board, she said.

Mary Beth Pastorius, who has restored two buildings downtown, said she would like to see the plan for the old county office building move forward, calling it the “best hope” for helping to revive the downtown area.

Councilman Miles Davin also said McNay’s plan for addressing parking is the “only alternative” and unless the plan is approved by zoning the project is “dead in the water.” Davin indicated he has done some work on the project for McNay and would abstain from any vote regarding it.

The zoning board is expected to consider the plan again Sept. 10.

In other business, council approved a surface use agreement with Vantage Energy for the borough’s former dump, subject to Chambers’ review and approval.

Vantage leases the natural gas rights on the property from the borough and needs the surface lease for an access road, which already exists but needs improved, and to install a pipeline and a fracking pond.

The pond will be temporary and only part of it will be on the borough’s property; the road access and pipeline right of way will be permanent. The gas well will be drilled on an adjoining property.

Rich Robb of Vantage said the company will pay the borough $30,000 to $35,000 for the surface lease for the six to seven acres that will be needed.

Drilling is expected to be done late this year or early next years. Vantage has a gas lease on 100 acres of borough property at the dump and at Meadowlark Park. It paid the borough a $100,000 signing bonus and will pay a 20 percent royalty on the sale of gas from the property.

Borough manager Mike Simms reported the contractor on the street repaving project is expected to begin paving Wednesday, starting on streets near Fox Ford and working west on streets north of High Street and then east on streets south of High Street

Council agreed to submit a new letter of support for a project to construct a four-story apartment building for seniors at the corner of High and East streets.

The developer of the project, PIRHL Developers LLC, failed to receive federal housing tax credits for the project in July but plans to submit another application for the credits for the next funding cycle.

Council voted to reject an amendment to the garbage collection contract proposed by the contractor, Advance Disposal, under which the borough would waive its right to join any class action suits or file a lawsuit with the court regarding any contract issues.