DOWNINGTOWN, PA — A property owner is seeking permission to operate a memorial monument retail business in a residential zoning district along East Lancaster Avenue in Downingtown, a proposed commercial use that will require approval from the borough’s Zoning Hearing Board at a November 17 hearing.
GY Realty LLC has filed application ZHB26-004 for 700 E. Lancaster Ave., requesting a use variance under Section 287-32(A) of the borough’s zoning ordinance to permit the business in the R-4 residential district.
The application also seeks two dimensional variances related to a proposed freestanding sign, addressing restrictions on sign area and setbacks from the public right-of-way.
The first dimensional variance concerns the maximum permitted area of a freestanding or on-premises sign in a residential district under Section 287-117, Appendices II and III.
The second concerns minimum right-of-way setbacks for a permanent freestanding sign under Section 287-117, Appendix II.
Together, the requests would allow the property to accommodate a retail operation and associated signage that would otherwise be restricted by the residential zoning classification.
The use variance is the central is...