Property owners representing two businesses in Little Italy recently obtained rulings from the city’s Zoning Hearing Board to facilitate a land swap that benefits both of the businesses.

The lots to be traded abut one another along the north side of the 700 block of Sixth Street.

The lot closest to Seventh Avenue, owned by Ferdinand Pasquini and used by Iceman’s Automotive Paint Shop Towing and Recovery across the street, will go to Mark Moschella for parking by customers of Moschella’s LIFeSTYLE ALTUS/Wild Brewing Co. restaurant, which is catty-corner across the avenue.

The lot farthest from Seventh Avenue, owned by Moschella, will go to Pasquini, for use by Iceman’s Automotive, which is across the street.

The lot that’s going to Moschella will be more convenient for Moschella’s customers’ parking than the lot he previously owned — one on which he didn’t encourage his customers to park anyway.

The lot that will go to Pasquini is larger than the one Pasquini gave up, making it more convenient for Iceman’s workers to use and providing room for a tow truck to turn around.

The soon-to-be-acquired lot is in a general industrial zone, which is better for a tow lot than the mixed-use zone in which his current lot is located, said Steve Ice, owner of Iceman’s.

Moschella obtained a special exception for off-site parking for the lot he will be acquiring, because — even though it’s closer to the restaurant/brewery — it’s still across the avenue.

Pasquini asked for permission from the board to operate the tow lot on the newly acquired ground, even though storage facilities are permitted in general industrial zones, because the zoning ordinance doesn’t give explicit permission for tow lots.

Pasquini also asked for a setback variance, as the lot is too small to be useful without one.

Moschella owns the Ravine Industries uniform store at 610 Seventh St.

After moving that business there, he bought up nearby property in an effort to improve the neighborhood, he said.

The establishment of the restaurant/brewery is part of that effort, he said.

“I wanted to build something nice for the city,” Moschella said. “So people would be proud to come into Altoona.”

The restaurant/brewery needs the extra parking especially when there are company events, Moschella said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.