Millvale considering zoning change for short-term rentals on Howard Street

Millvale residents will have a chance next week to voice their opinions on a proposed rezoning on Howard Street.

Council will hold a public hearing on changing 127 Howard St. from residential to commercial when it meets at 6 p.m. Aug. 12 at the borough building, 501 Lincoln Ave.

The narrow lot runs from Howard to Bateman streets, with a currently vacant house at the rear of the lot along Bateman.

The zoning change is linked to a proposal to rehabilitate the house for use as a short-term rental. A developer will buy the parcel if the rezoning is approved, said Phil Mangis, Millvale’s zoning officer and zoning and planning director.

The parcel borders a commercially zoned area on one side.

While the house could be used for short-term rentals with the existing residential zoning, Mangis said that would require a use variance and create a nonconforming use, which he told council at its workshop meeting Tuesday is something they should avoid doing.

At its meeting in June, the borough’s planning commission was split on recommending the rezoning, with two members in favor, two opposed and one member absent.

If ultimately approved, the house would not be required to have any off-street parking, but the developer is looking to place six parking spaces in the vacant space off Howard Street, next to the neighboring house at 125 Howard St. That would require the owner negotiating an agreement with the owner of 131 Howard St. on the other side for access to the spaces, Mangis said.

The borough is still working on a parking-related agreement for a short-term rental property at 141 Evergreen Ave., which already is zoned commercial.

While also not required to have any parking, that developer has asked the borough to vacate an unpaved portion of Wehple Street along the side of the property so it can be used for parking.

Council has asked whether those spaces could be made available for public use.