Zoning board approves variance to allow storefront-plus-apartment at 476 West Market Street
October 17, 2025 | York City, York County, Pennsylvania
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The City of York Zoning Hearing Board on Oct. 14 approved a variance allowing a conversion of 476 West Market Street to a combined commercial storefront and apartment use.
The applicant, listed as Monique Billery in the hearing record, asked the board for relief to return the ground floor to commercial use with an efficiency apartment in the rear and additional residential units above. The board voted to approve the variance as requested.
Board records introduced at the hearing show the property is in the UN-2 zoning district and that the Planning Commission recommended approval on Oct. 13. At the hearing, Michael Dowry, who said he is approaching the project jointly with his sister Monique, described the property as historically used as a doctor's office and said the building has separate utilities and about 10 parking spaces in the rear. "We would like to return it to the state of commercial use on the First Floor and residential above," Dowry said at the hearing.
Dowry and the applicant told the board they plan a small tax or accounting/tax service at the storefront and an efficiency behind the storefront area, plus two-bedroom and one-bedroom units above. A board member who identified themselves as the meeting historian noted the block's history as "Doctor's Row," saying the corridor once hosted many small medical practices.
A motion to approve the variance was made and seconded on the record; the board called the vote and recorded affirmative votes. The board did not request additional conditions beyond the variance language as presented.
The application citation on the record refers to the request under "section 1304.01 dash 1.040.001" (as read aloud at the hearing) for the UN-2 district; the Planning Commission's written recommendation for approval was entered into the record.
The turnaround for the conversion and any required building permits will depend on the applicant's subsequent permit submissions and building-code approvals; no additional formal board directions were recorded at the hearing.
Votes at a glance: The motion to approve the variance for 476 West Market Street passed at the Oct. 14 hearing by an affirmative vote called on the record.
The applicant, listed as Monique Billery in the hearing record, asked the board for relief to return the ground floor to commercial use with an efficiency apartment in the rear and additional residential units above. The board voted to approve the variance as requested.
Board records introduced at the hearing show the property is in the UN-2 zoning district and that the Planning Commission recommended approval on Oct. 13. At the hearing, Michael Dowry, who said he is approaching the project jointly with his sister Monique, described the property as historically used as a doctor's office and said the building has separate utilities and about 10 parking spaces in the rear. "We would like to return it to the state of commercial use on the First Floor and residential above," Dowry said at the hearing.
Dowry and the applicant told the board they plan a small tax or accounting/tax service at the storefront and an efficiency behind the storefront area, plus two-bedroom and one-bedroom units above. A board member who identified themselves as the meeting historian noted the block's history as "Doctor's Row," saying the corridor once hosted many small medical practices.
A motion to approve the variance was made and seconded on the record; the board called the vote and recorded affirmative votes. The board did not request additional conditions beyond the variance language as presented.
The application citation on the record refers to the request under "section 1304.01 dash 1.040.001" (as read aloud at the hearing) for the UN-2 district; the Planning Commission's written recommendation for approval was entered into the record.
The turnaround for the conversion and any required building permits will depend on the applicant's subsequent permit submissions and building-code approvals; no additional formal board directions were recorded at the hearing.
Votes at a glance: The motion to approve the variance for 476 West Market Street passed at the Oct. 14 hearing by an affirmative vote called on the record.
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