College Township Looking to Modify Penn State Zoning

With more businesses opening food service and retail locations on Penn State’s campus in College Township, such as in Pegula Ice Arena, the university and the township are looking to resolve a zoning issue that states that those types of entities should not be there.

While Subway, and the newly opened Duck Donuts and Brazilian Munchies operate during games at Pegula, the businesses also are open at times during the week. This practice goes against the current zoning regulations of the township, and Penn State officials are looking to modify the zoning in the area to reflect what these businesses are actually doing. College Township wants to make sure they do not have an advantage compared to other food service options off campus.

At its meeting in October, College Township Council discussed a request from Penn State Planning, Design and Properties to modify the existing University Planned District 9, which had been in place since 2006 and serves as the default zoning ordinance for all Penn State properties within College Township. Penn State-owned land is divided into 16 districts, out of which five are in College Township covering 3,500 acres. The remaining districts are located within State College Borough’s boundaries.

The issue of concern is that UPD 9 does not allow for food and retail sales, while they have existed for sometime at places like Subway in Pegula and at the Centre County/Penn State Visitor Center, which sells tourist-related items such as T-shirts and magnets.

The township council is opening the request to make changes to the designated uses permitted in the sub-district, saying the actual function of the existing and potential future retail and restaurant uses will be accessory in nature and not standalone enterprises that may compete with private businesses located off campus.

The College Township Planning Commission discussed the issue during its October meeting, and members were concerned that allowing these businesses to use delivery services would provide an unfair advantage compared to other businesses in the community off campus.

“There are people who are raising their families on their restaurants downtown, and I tend to lean toward protecting that,” said planning commission member William McKibbin.

The planning commission suggested it should add language stating that food sales establishments shall be for on-site food service only and not include delivery service.

Council is expected to review the revisions at its meeting on Thursday and could at that  time schedule a public hearing for a future meeting.