A controversial off-campus housing plan for Franklin & Marshall College students lost a key backer this morning.

Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray announced that he was withdrawing his support for the overlay zoning plan after learning that fraternity members would be allowed to group themselves in off-campus housing.

Gray said he was not aware students — particularly fraternity members –— would be allowed to live together in the proposed plan until he was contacted about it by a New Era reporter Tuesday morning.

Gray cited the subsequent newspaper story and one in the college's campus newspaper in helping him make his decision.

"The whole concept of fraternities being involved and being grouped together like that had never been discussed with me," the mayor said this morning.

"Based on that information, I don't think I can continue to support the student overlay district."

The zoning application was withdrawn late Monday by the college and Silverang Hallowell Development, the developer the college contracted to own, renovate and manage off-campus properties on its behalf.

Kevin Silverang, a St. David's real estate developer and an F&M alumni, this morning called Gray's decision "unfortunate."

"I think that this is an overreaction to what we are trying to do, which is clean up dilapidated housing," Silverang said.

He said the off-campus properties would be made available to juniors and seniors through a lottery system. A student who draws a low number would be allowed to bring a certain number of other students into off-campus housing with them. Those students may be affiliated through a Greek organization, or through a sports team or club or be just friends, he said.

But Silverang emphasized that neither he nor the college would sanction fraternities or sororities occupying the off-campus properties.

College spokesman Keith Orris said at Tuesday night's Lancaster City Council meeting that the overlay plan would not create any new fraternity or sorority houses.

Earlier in the day, he and Kent Trachte, dean of the college, said students would be allowed to group themselves under the plan but not be allowed to put up signs or have parties.

College officials said they plan to modify the proposal based on comments made at a public meeting last week and resubmit it soon.

City residents have had many problems with off-campus fraternity parties disrupting the neighborhood.

Several residents cited those problems when speaking against the proposal at last Wednesday's city Planning Commission meeting. The meeting drew 125 people. None of the residents spoke in favor of the plan.

North Mulberry Street resident David Hommel commented at Tuesday's council meeting that "the outcry is a result of F&M not dealing with the city and its residents honestly."

Gray this morning recalled his own experience living in a fraternity house while in college. That house, and other frat houses were on campus at American University in Washington, D.C.

The mayor said he wouldn't want to live next to that house and doesn't believe frat houses are compatible with the close living conditions of the city's northwest rowhouses.

"Had I had some idea of this in the plans for the overlay district, I would not have supported it," Gray said.

Orris defended the overlay plan Tuesday night. The college's goals for the program were to provide safe housing, improve the neighborhood close to campus with the investment of about $17 million in the properties and to provide oversight of off-campus residents that does not now currently exist.

CONTACT US: bharris@LNPnews.com or 481-6022