Millcreek zoning board approves three applications, including Erie City Mission shelter; requires window move on in‑law suite

The Millcreek Township Zoning Hearing Board on reconvening approved three of four appeals on its agenda, moving forward a private storage‑garage variance, a conditioned in‑law apartment exemption and a special exception for Erie City Mission to convert the former Our Lady of Mount Carmel School into a shelter for women and children.

Thomas Weiss of 7250 Schultz Road received approval to build a 24‑foot storage garage — 4 feet above the local height limit — on a parcel that crosses the Millcreek municipal line. The applicant told the board his home sits in Summit Township while the buildable portion is in Millcreek. "I seek to build a storage garage," Weiss said, describing plans to match the house roofline. The board called the lot a single integral parcel and voted to approve his variance.

The board also approved Joseph (Joe) Caulfield’s request to add a 960‑sq‑ft in‑law apartment at 329 Forest Run Drive, exceeding the 720‑sq‑ft limit. Caulfield said the addition is needed to accommodate an aging father with a cancer diagnosis and to provide accessible living space for multiple family members after his wife recently gave birth to twins. Neighbor Mark Pellegrino urged the board to consider converting existing attached garages or moving the bedroom egress window to reduce privacy impacts; Caulfield agreed to move the egress window to the south. The board’s approval included that window‑movement condition.

A third approval went to Erie City Mission (ECM), which sought a special exception to adaptively reuse the Our Lady of Mount Carmel School at 15553 East Grandview Boulevard as what ECM described as a "haven for women and children." Attorney Jim Tuohy and ECM board representative (speaker 15) outlined that the program would operate by referral, not serve the general public during regular business hours, and be phased to address code upgrades first (including sprinklers). ECM said most funding for purchase and renovation will come from private sources and that the organization aims eventually to house about 70 women and children, providing on‑site case management, education and transportation. "We call it a haven for women and children in crisis," attorney Jim Tuohy said during the presentation.

Board members reviewed relevant special‑exception criteria, including compatibility with the residential neighborhood and stormwater/subdivision requirements; ECM representatives said they will comply with permitting and offered security measures such as locked entry, visitor check‑in and video surveillance.

The board’s votes were made after a brief recess and roll call. For the in‑law apartment the board explicitly conditioned approval on relocating the bedroom egress window to reduce direct sightlines into a neighbor’s yard and noted that stormwater and subdivision permitting remain subject to township review.

The board adjourned after completing votes on the three applications that evening.

What happens next: Caulfield must submit revised plans showing the moved egress window; ECM will proceed with subdivision and stormwater permitting and phased renovation work subject to building permits; Weiss may move forward with building permits for the approved garage.