View Full Version : New Hostel in Waynesboro, PA denied permit.
Actually the town would have had to change a zoning ordinance.
WAYNESBORO, Pa.—
Citing concerns about the location and users, the Washington (http://www.herald-mail.com/topic/us/washington-%28u.s.-state%29-PLGEO100104900000000.topic) Township (Pa.) Supervisors said Wednesday they will not change their zoning ordinance to accommodate a man who wants to open a hostel for Appalachian Trail (http://www.herald-mail.com/topic/travel/tourism-leisure/appalachian-national-scenic-trail-PLTRA00058.topic) hikers.
Lawrence "Bogator" Pitt asked to create a hostel at his property in the 11000 block of Mentzer Gap Road, according to a memorandum prepared by township staff.
http://www.herald-mail.com/news/tristate/hm-washington-township-supervisors-cool-to-hikerhostel-proposal-20110810,0,3304321.story?track%3Drss
Wise Old Owl
08-15-2011, 00:12
Sad Sly, I guess he could have done it on the down low.....
Sad Sly, I guess he could have done it on the down low.....
Once a hiker hostel catches on, "down low" ceases to exist. Neighbors and authorities will definitely notice and in many cases over-react.
Ask Mike of Terrapin Hostel near Front Royal VA how far "down low" got him. Years later, he's finally able to be open legally but he had to / still has to jump through a lot of hoops.
Tuckahoe
08-15-2011, 10:36
I dont see a problem. Hikers are just passing through while the community still has to live there with the results. Atleast from what little detail there is in the article it seems that the supervisors are willing to work with the guy for something a little less grand than what he might have originally planned.
Supervisor John Gorman said the idea too closely resembles a traditional, commercial camp.
"I like the concept, but I think this is a little too broad," he said
"I don't know the hikers are all that (much) trouble. The thing is he's wanting to put a little village down there," Supervisor Carroll Sturm said.
They one surpervisor, Stephen Kulla, seemed not to really get it.
Who wants a flop house in their residential neighborhood? The town got it right!
max patch
08-15-2011, 12:47
Who wants a flop house in their residential neighborhood? The town got it right!
I agree. Nothing against Miss Janet, but I'm surprised her hostel lasted as long as it did without being closed down.
Rain Man
08-15-2011, 16:41
Sad Sly, I guess he could have done it on the down low.....
You mean, illegally?
Rain Man
.
I don't know, seems like a couple here don't get it. You can have a B&B just about anywhere, and as far as I know that's what Miss Janet's was categorized as.
It's not like a hostel in Waynesboro PA would be attracting an awful lots of hikers.
Here's the sat view of the area, not sure which house it is.
http://classic.mapquest.com/maps?city=Waynesboro&state=PA&address=11000+Mentzer+Gap+Rd&zipcode=17268-9354&country=US&latitude=39.764112&longitude=-77.523514&geocode=ADDRESS
well that there is the problem - a freeking country club is right there - those remarkable individuals will do anything to keep from looking at people who resemble homeless people - abandon all hope for getting a hostel there
Lone Wolf
08-15-2011, 17:48
too many hostels as it is. let 'em stay in the woods where they belong
I don't know, seems like a couple here don't get it. You can have a B&B just about anywhere, and as far as I know that's what Miss Janet's was categorized as....
I don't know if Miss Janet's was legally a B&B either, nor what the rules are in Tennessee or Erwin. But in general (in the places I've lived), B&Bs must pass health and safety inspections on a regular basis, local codes declare maximum occupancy, and where lodging taxes exist they must collect and submit taxes to the city, county, state, etc. There are undoubtedly even more regs in some locales.
Some AT hostels may qualify under this scenario as B&Bs if they applied for that status, but most I've been to don't seem like they would qualify nor that their operators would be likely to go that legit. One that comes to mind that might is Elmer's in Hot Springs, but I don't really know. He runs a tight ship there, so his neighbors (closeby, in town) probably rarely have a problem with Sunnybank Inn or its visitors whether it is following all the regs a B&B would or not.
On that note, it seems to me that the more rural a hostel is the fewer problems (real or perceived) it will have with neighbors since they would not be closeby. Since the AT is often routed through very rural terrain, it should be a no-brainer to locate hostels close to the Trail—away from towns, suburbia, or subdivisions with nearby neighbors. Good examples would be Kincora, Standing Bear, Rusty's, etc.
And HOI may be onto something with regard to that country club.
well that there is the problem - a freeking country club is right there - those remarkable individuals will do anything to keep from looking at people who resemble homeless people - abandon all hope for getting a hostel there
I was going to say the same thing about the Country Club, but thought I may be a bit off track. Moreover, the distance from the trail could be a factor and the scope of the operation which was proposed. Up here, hikers are a mix of both thru-hikers and section hikers. Very few section hikers utilize hostels.
I was going to say the same thing about the Country Club, but thought I may be a bit off track. Moreover, the distance from the trail could be a factor and the scope of the operation which was proposed. Up here, hikers are a mix of both thru-hikers and section hikers. Very few section hikers utilize hostels.
Looking at the map the road to the proposed hostel (Mentzer Gap) is less than it is to town on rt 16. It's certainly not long if he's was planning a shuttle service. There's already a B&B and Days Inn in town. Guess they don't like competition.
4eyedbuzzard
08-16-2011, 08:13
Hiding a hiker hostel can work for a while, but it's a bit like hiding an egg farm - eventually the wind shifts and people catch on to what's happening.
Hiding a hiker hostel can work for a while, but it's a bit like hiding an egg farm - eventually the wind shifts and people catch on to what's happening.
That may be true but it's plain to see this guy wasn't try to hide anything.
Lone Wolf
08-16-2011, 08:39
well that's just the way it goes. most hikers don't go to that town any way
wornoutboots
08-16-2011, 09:45
I like the idea of hikertrash grabbing a quick round of golf while in town & those greens would be real comfortabel to sleep on, come on, can't you picture that foresome now : O D
Looking at the map the road to the proposed hostel (Mentzer Gap) is less than it is to town on rt 16. It's certainly not long if he's was planning a shuttle service. There's already a B&B and Days Inn in town. Guess they don't like competition.
You could be right. When analyzing opposition, it's almost always a good idea to follow the money—especially in a small town.
I like the idea of hikertrash grabbing a quick round of golf while in town & those greens would be real comfortabel to sleep on, come on, can't you picture that foresome now : O D
Yep, I can see them trying to yellow-blaze from about the 11th green to the clubhouse. :-)
Wise Old Owl
08-17-2011, 22:23
Yea the visiting chickens would need to bathe..... can't have that smell drift across a country club.