Civic Approves Fourth House for Subdivision

The Wissahickon Neighbors Association approved a zoning variance that would allow a developer to build a fourth house on an already subdivided lot.

Developer Nate Torok received approval to build three homes at 3722 Sharp St. under the city’s old zoning code.

However, this fourth house will be constructed under the new code, and he needs a variance for the parking.

“I want to give you the two parking spots like I promised,” Torok said.  “But in between the construction of the first three houses and the fourth house, the zoning code changed.”

All three of first houses have driveways that are 18 feet long.  That way they can fit two cars.

The new zoning code requires Torok’s fourth home to have a setback from the street of 19 feet, but the new code does not include parking as a setback.

“Under the new code, because of the parking, the setback would actually be one foot with a 18 foot driveway.”

Parking on Sharp Street, as it is in all of Roxborough and Manayunk, is tight.  When Torok originally proposed the housing development he promised residents that each home would have two parking spaces.

“This fourth house will be exactly the same as the other three,” Torok said.  “The zoning code just changed in the middle of the process.”