MINUTES OF ZONING HEARING BOARD MEETING

 

The zoning hearing board of Palmer Township met on Tuesday, August 1, 2006, at 7:30 P.M. in the Palmer Memorial Library, One Weller Place, to hear the following appeals.  In attendance were Nicholas Noel III, zoning board solicitor, Charles Roseberry, board chairman, Cherie Kavanaugh and Daniel Caravetta, board members, R. Margaret Kennedy and Robert Gibbons, alternates, John A. Embardino, zoning officer, and court reporter Ted Rewak.

 

A motion was made by Cherie Kavanaugh to approve the minutes of the July 5, 2006 zoning hearings.  The motion was seconded by Daniel Caravetta, with all in favor.

 

06-29    7:30 p.m.  Robert C. Schubert, 18 Alpine Drive, is seeking a special exception pursuant to section 190-38 B, to operate a financial service as a home occupation in an MDR zoning district.

WITNESSES:  Robert Shubert, David Radtke, 23 Alpine Drive, Richard Deutsch, 25 Alpine Drive.

ACTION:  A motion was made by Cherie Kavanaugh to approve this special exception for a home occupation that the requested sign and any exterior lighting meet all requirements of the zoning ordinances and that there may be a maximum of 5 clients per day as testified by the applicant and all client parking shall be provided off-street.  The motion was seconded by Daniel Caravetta and all were in favor.

 

06-30    7:40 p.m. Hanh and Sarah Nguyen, 1818 Northampton Street, Easton, PA, are seeking a special exception pursuant to section 190-38 B to operate a hair and nail salon as a home occupation at 2580 Nazareth Road.  They also seek use variances pursuant to sections 190-37, 190-39, and 190-251 C to operate as a business use in an MDR zone in the Route 248 Overlay District.

WITNESSES:  Hanh and Sarah Nguyen, Christopher Giovenco, real estate agent for ERA, Joel Ziev, Esq., Brenda Golden, 2573 Stephen Street, Marjorie Blodgett, 2569 Stephens Street.

ACTION:  A motion was made by Daniel Caravetta to deny the request for a special exception and use variances.  The motion was seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh and all were in agreement.

 

06-31    7:50 p.m.  Strausser Enterprises, 1108 Van Buren Road, is seeking variances pursuant to sections 190-58.8 M, building setback from public or private streets; 190-58.8 D (2) and 190-54 E (2), flexibility in placement requirements; 190-58.8 G (5), accessory structure setbacks; and 190-58.8 K, changes in façade, for a proposed multi-structure development in an HDR2 zoning district.

WITNESSES:  Sal Panto of Strausser Enterprises, Phil Siebert, Ott Engineering, Leonard Mellon, Esq., Michael Sartini, 135 Clover Hollow Road, Dennis DeEsch, Esq., representing Nancy Meilinger residing at 1375 Van Buren Road, Paul Andryshak, 96 Glenmoor Circle, Geri Peek, 112 Glenmoor Circle, Harry Graack, 101 Mauch Chunk Street, Nazareth PA., Elizabeth Bergbower, 102 Glenmoor Circle, Robert Ronn, 124 Glenmoor Circle, Daniel Etzold, 78 Glenmoor Circle, Maureen Senger, 98 Glenmoor Circle, John Halligan, 12 Canterbury Lane.

ACTION:  A motion was made by Cherie Kavanaugh to deny relief of 5 feet from front setback line for townhomes with detached garages.  The motion was seconded by Daniel Caravetta and rejected by a 2 to 1 vote, with Charles Roseberry and Daniel Caravetta voting no and Cherie Kavanaugh voting yes.

A motion was made by Daniel Caravetta to grant relief from 190-58.8 M for a five-foot front setback from right of way line for the smaller townhomes with detached garages as depicted on exhibit A-2.  The motion was seconded by Charles Roseberry, and passed by a 2 to 1 vote, with Charles Roseberry and Daniel Caravetta voting yes and Cherie Kavanaugh voting no.

A motion was made by Daniel Caravetta to deny relief from 190-58.8 M for a 20-foot front setback for townhomes with front entry garages.  The motion was seconded by Cherie Kavanaugh, with all in agreement.

A motion was made by Daniel Caravetta to grant relief from 190-58.8 M for a 7-foot setback from a 24-foot alley for detached garages as presented in exhibit A-2.  The motion was seconded by Charles Roseberry, with all in agreement.

A motion was made by Daniel Caravetta to grant relief from 190-58.8 D (2) and 190-54 E (2) as requested for flexibility of placement and steep slope relief as depicted in exhibit A-2.  Charles Roseberry seconded this motion and all were in agreement.

A motion was made by Cherie Kavanaugh to grant relief from the 1-foot setback requirements for accessory structures in 190-58.8 G (5).  The motion was seconded by Daniel Caravetta and all were in agreement.

A motion was made by Cherie Kavanaugh to grant relief from the 6-foot offset requirements of 190-58.8 K.  The offset shall be a minimum of 2 feet with architectural differences to be incorporated.  The motion was seconded by Daniel Caravetta and all were in agreement.

 

06-32    8:00 p.m.  Interstate Development Services, Inc. for Commerce Bank, Mount Laurel, N.J., is seeing a special exception pursuant to section 190-166 for a reduction in the required number of parking spaces in conjunction with a proposed Commerce Bank at the Palmer Park Mall located in a PC zoning district.

WITNESSES:  Peter Lehr, Esq., Matthew Chartrand, P.E. of Bohler Engineering, Frank Caglianone, construction manager for Commerce Bank, John Harter, Atlantic Traffic Design, Creigh Rahenkamp, AICP of Creigh Rahenkamp and Associates, Joe Alessi, 64 Clairmont Avenue, Ronald Scalzo, 73 Morningside Drive.

ACTION:  A motion was made by Cherie Kavanaugh to deny this special exception as requested but to grant a deferred construction deadline for 27 parking spaces until August 1, 2007, as modified by the applicant’s alternate proposal.  The motion was seconded by Daniel Caravetta and all were in agreement.

 

Having no further business to discuss, the hearing was adjourned

 

John A. Embardino

Zoning Officer