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<br />546 A.2d 755 <br /> <br />http://web2.westlaw.comiresultldocumenttext.aspx?docsample=Fals. " <br /> <br />special use. As we have stated, "[A] special exception Is not *l68 an exception to the zoning <br />ordinance but is a use which is permitted unless, under the circumstances, such use would adversely <br />affect the community...." Heck v. Zonlna Hearlna Board of Harvev's Lake Borouah, 39 <br />Pa.Commonwealth ct. 570. 575. 397 A.2d 15. 18 (1979) . Appellant does not allege on appeal that <br />the use would adversely affect the community, Rather, she argues that the proposed uses are not <br />"hospitals" because the building will be used for administrative purposes and not for housing patients. <br />We need say no more than the trial court In this regard. "Hospital offices are just as much a hospital <br />as patient rooms." (Opinion of trial court, 10/1/87, p. 3). <br /> <br />Finally, appellant challenges the Board's grant of a variance to 306 South Wilbur Avenue on a number <br />of grounds. Before proceeding upon her challenges, a factual narration Is required. All three of the <br />properties were formerly owned by the Sayre Motel. The property at 306 South Wilbur Avenue has <br />been used as a banquet facility for almost nine years. Such use was nonconforming. The property Is <br />bordered on three sides by the R/M district; the property to the south Is the only one In the R/S <br />district, When the hospital sought permission to remove the motel building on Its land to construct a <br />parking lot to the rear of 306 South Wilbur Avenue, the Board granted the special use on the <br />condition that 306 South Wilbur Avenue was left Intact, "screening" the parking lot for the single <br />family residences across the street. Further, testimony was presented that Sayre Borough was In the <br />process of amending Its zoning ordinance to classify the area which Included 306 South Wilbur <br />Avenue as a hospital zone. <br /> <br />Richard Ault, the hospital's Vice President for Administration, testified that the property would be <br />used for offices for approximately seven employees who would work from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. <br />Monday *l69 through Friday. He testified that those employees would use the employee parking lot. <br />The hospital's administration planned no structural changes to the building, keeping Its residential <br />facade intact. The only outside light would be the porch light. Ault testified that while deliveries would <br />be **758 made to the buildIng, the delivery trucks could park In a driveway on the property, He <br />testified that because of the prior use as a banquet hall, extensive interior upgrading would be <br />required to convert the property to a single family residence and that such costs would probably <br />make the rent prohibitive. <br /> <br />Upon considering all of the testimony, the Board granted the variance. It concluded that the zoning <br />ordinance created an unnecessary hardship because 306 South Wilbur Avenue was unique and found <br />that granting the variance would not be contrary to the public Interest. The Board also concluded that <br />the portion of Section 6.501 of the zoning ordinance which penmltted variances only for uses <br />permitted within the zoning district was unconstitutional. Appellant, of course, challenges all of these <br />findings and conclusions. <br /> <br />ill ~ ill ~ Appellant first argues that both the Board and the court erred In concluding that the <br />ordinance was unconstitutional In prohibiting use variances. We do not believe this conclusion need <br />be reviewed, It Is well settled that a court should not decide a constitutional question if the case can <br />be decided on nonconstltutlonal grounds. Lattanzio v. Unemolovment Comoensatlon Board of Review. <br />461 Pa. 392. 336 A.2d 595 (1975) . Furthermore, we can affirm a correct decision of a tribunal below <br />even If the reasoning of that body was erroneous. Rhoads v. Lancaster Park/na Author/tv. 103 <br />Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 303. 520 A.2d 122 (1987) . <br /> <br />ill ~ ll!!l ~ Section 912(2) of the MPC empowers a board to grant variances where, inter alia, It <br />Is necessary to enable *l70 a reasonable use of the property. 53 P,S. q 10912(2). In this case, the <br />permitted special uses are the conversion of a single family residence to a two family residence, <br />churches, Sunday schools and other places of worship, public schools, parks, playgrounds and <br />firehouses. Schedule 1 of the ordinance. As none of these uses are reasonable for the hospital, strict <br />application of Section 6.501 of the ordinance would be Inconsistent with the MPC. For that reason, we <br />believe the questioned portion of that section was properly disregarded In this case. <br /> <br />~ <br />illl Appellant next argues that the hospital failed to prove the requisite unnecessary hardship <br /> <br />6of8 <br /> <br />12/29/2006 4: 56 PM <br />