MINUTES OF ZONING HEARING BOARD MEETING

 

The zoning hearing board of Palmer Township met on Tuesday, April 6, 2005 at 7:30 P.M. in the Palmer Memorial Library, One Weller Place, to hear the following appeals.  In attendance were Nick Noel III, zoning board solicitor, Charles Roseberry, board chairman, Cherie Kavanaugh, board member, John A. Embardino, zoning officer, and court reporter Ted Rewak.  Board member Dan Caravetta was absent.  Chris Pollock represented the Express Times.

 

05-13      7:30 p.m.  Scott M. Durnin, 361 Filetown Road, Nazareth, PA. Is seeking a use variance pursuant to sections 190-76, 190-77, and 190-78, to replace a conforming auto repair shop with a nonconforming plumbing business at 2502 Dearborn Street, located in a GC district.

Witness:  Scott Durnin

Motion by Charles Roseberry to approve the proposed business change pursuant to 190-76 I, permitted by right.  Applicant may replace the wall sign on front of the building with a sign of the same size, the freestanding sign on the premises to the right front of the building must be reduced to 10 feet in height, the freestanding off-premise sign at the intersection of Dearborn and 25th Streets must be removed.  The applicant may not lease any space on the premises, including the lot across the street from the principal use to any other business entity.  All macadam-parking areas are to be striped.  Cherie Kavanaugh seconded the motion, with all in favor.

 

05-11    7:40 p.m.  Bartush Signs, Inc. of Orwigsburg, PA, representing Holiday Hair, is seeking relief from section 190-184 A (4) (a), to install wall signs in excess of area allowed on a lot with multiple commercial establishments in the Palmer Town Center, located in a GC district.  At the applicant’s request, this hearing was continued from March 1.

Witness:  Richard Crawford of Bartush Signs.

Motion by Cherie Kavanaugh to approve wall sign as proposed with an area of 22.5 square feet, limited to 3 colors.  The sign must have a timer system to turn off no later than 11 pm and must meet all applicable zoning requirements.  Charles Roseberry seconded the motion, with all in favor.

 

05-14      7:50 p.m.  Bartush Signs, Inc., of Orwigsburg, PA, representing LA Weight Loss, is seeking relief from section 190-184 A (4) (a), to install signs in excess of area allowed on a lot with multiple commercial establishments in the Palmer Town Center, located in a GC district.

Witness:  Richard Crawford of Bartush Signs.

Motion by Charles Roseberry to approve the sign as proposed with colors and design as presented in exhibit A-2 and a maximum of 27 square feet in area.  A timer must be installed to turn sign off no later than 11 pm.  Cherie Kavanaugh seconded the motion, with all in favor.

 

05-15      8:00 p.m.  Bartush Signs, Inc., of Orwigsburg, PA, representing Cingular Wireless, is seeking relief from Section 190-184 A (4) (a), to install signs in excess of area allowed on a lot with multiple commercial establishments in the Palmer Town Center, located in a GC district.

Witness:  Richard Crawford of Bartush Signs.

 Motion by Cherie Kavanaugh to approve a maximum 64 square foot wall sign on the storefront face of the building with color and design as presented on exhibit A-2.  A timer must be installed to turn sign off no later than 11 pm.  A west sidewall face sign was denied.  Charles Roseberry seconded the motion, with all in favor.

 

05-16      8:10 p.m.   Reed Signs, of Pennsburg, PA, representing Joseph J. Root, is seeking relief from section 190-184 A (4) (a), to install wall signs in excess of area allowed on a lot with multiple commercial establishments at Oreck Floor Center in the Palmer Town Center, located in a GC district.

Witness:  Edward (Bud) Reed of Reed Sign.

Motion by Charles Roseberry to approve the sign as proposed in exhibit A-2 with colors and design as presented at a maximum of 34.66 square feet in area and a timer installed to turn sign off at 11 pm.

 

05-17      8:20 p.m.  Reed Signs, of Pennsburg, PA, representing Ron Kash, is seeking relief from section 190-184 A (4) (a), to install wall signs in excess of area allowed on a lot with multiple commercial establishments at Palmer Town Cleaners in the Palmer Town Center, located in a GC district.

Witness:  Edward (Bud) Reed of Reed Sign.

Motion by Cherie Kavanaugh to approve sign as presented in exhibit A-2 with colors and design as proposed at a maximum of 27.5 square feet in area and a timer installed to turn lights off at 11 pm.  Charles Roseberry seconded this motion, with all in favor.

 

05-18      8:30 p.m.  Joseph P. Wynne, of Palmer Township, is seeking relief from section 190-184 A (4) (a), to install wall signs in excess of area allowed on a lot with multiple commercial establishments and wall signs not facing a public street, at Bear Rock Café in the Palmer Town Center, located in a GC district.

Witnesses:  Joseph P. Wynne, John Soptic.

At the request of the applicant, the request for a second sign, a bear logo, on a second wall face was withdrawn.

Motion by Charles Roseberry to approve 36 square feet of sign area on the front wall face including Bear Rock Café with a paw print logo in the middle as depicted on exhibit A-2 and white vinyl lettering at approximately 5.19 square feet in area to be installed as window signage.  Window signage will include hours of operation, Bear Rock Café and logo, with product advertisement as depicted in exhibit A-3.  A timer must be installed to turn wall sign off by 11 pm.  Cherie Kavanaugh seconded this motion, with all in favor.

 

 

05-19      8:40 p.m.  Colonial Builders, Inc., of Bethlehem, PA, is seeking a special exception pursuant to sections 190-199 C (2) (a) 1 through 7, to build a single family detached home with on-site septic, on a non-conforming lot of record at 246 Avon Street, in an MDR district.

Witnesses:  Barry Fehnel, Charles Spaziani, Esq., Joseph Gegalis, 250 Avon Street, Romaine Millheim, 356 Berkeley Street and Jane Werkheiser, 350 Berkeley Street.

Motion by Cherie Kavanaugh to approve the request as presented, on condition that the property meets percolation specifications and all state and local requirements for a septic system.  In addition, all easement rights across the portion of unopened Avon Street are to be obtained.  Charles Roseberry seconded this motion, with all in favor.

 

Any person interested or aggrieved may appear at the appointed time and be heard.  Any parties who would deem themselves aggrieved by the grant of relief requested in any appeal must appear before the Zoning Hearing Board, either in person to submit an appearance form provided by the Board or through submission of a legally authenticated statement of proof.

 

 

John A. Embardino

Zoning Officer