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Williamsport Water and Sanitary Authority building will get a rear facade makeover despite lingering concerns about the amount of metal material to be used.
City Council approved the certificate of appropriateness for the building owners at 253 W. Fourth St. despite a negative recommendation from Williamsport Planning Commission.
The authority wants to put a metal material on the wall of the facade of the building.
This would be galvanized metal siding on the building that is in the central business district.
The rehabilitation will consist of steel panels painted beige or light stone color to match the building.
The rear of the building is where the parking lot is located.
The existing material is like Stucco and the authority continuously has issues with peeling and cracking every couple years, said Gary Knarr, city zoning officer.
The colors conform with the color of earth tone to conform with the rules in the central business district.
The ordinance, however, states that the building must be made up of less than 50% of the steel or metal fabric.
Based on what is presented it would be less than 50% or actually 23% of the linear footage of the building.
The commission recommendation would be that 25% would be steel versus having that whole wall become a steel painted beige tone color.
The commission recommended they would like to see the authority come back with something other than the whole wall being made up of the steel material, Knarr said.
Councilman Jon Mackey asked what was the reasoning for using steel rather than another material and how high is the wall and he was told it was 15 to 20 ft.
"It's peeling off, breaking off and water is getting in," Knarr said, adding the authority wanted a more permanent resolution so as not to replace it every couple years.
The commission recommendation was that it'd be 25% metal and then the rest of it be some other material that does not change the characteristics of the central business district.
Councilwoman Liz Miele noted how she could see both sides' concerns.
Upon a question Knarr said the wall view is partially blocked by the Williamsport Parking Authority building, Lamar Advertising sign and could it be fully seen from the streets.
Miele said several years ago the city did permit Liberty Arena to build the arena and the exterior is primarily metal.
"I was really surprised at the time that that parcel was accepted but it was a tax paying one," she said.
The council does not often receive a negative recommendation from the commission.
Perhaps, she noted, the commission will revisit the central business district zoning regulations regarding exterior facade materials and the authority can consider finding another suitable material to meet its needs.