Despite resident opposition, the Maxatawny Township Board of Supervisors voted on Feb. 10 to hold a zoning hearing for a residential proposal expanding commercial zoning to 550 feet on West Kutztown Road (Route 222).
Property owner Josh Tucker requested his property along West Kutztown Road be rezoned so he could have a better chance to sell the land. The property is currently zoned residential except for a 300 foot set back zoned commercial. Tucker requested the commercial zoning set back be expanded 550 feet, rezoning a little more than 17 acres to commercial. The other 39 to 40 acres will remain as residential, it has been farmed for more than 20 years and will continue to be farmed.
Previously, the Maxatawny Township Planning Commission on Jan. 21 unanimously denied Tucker’s request for expanded commercial zoning for the farm property on Kutztown Road, citing that allowing for bigger commercial development would not be a compatible mix for the neighborhood.
The revision of the zoning request once again met with residential opposition at the Board of Supervisors meeting.
“I would like to emphasize one of the options: the board could very well do nothing,” said David Sobotka, Tucker’s neighbor who opposes the change. He said that instead of advancing the issue any further the Board should halt it immediately.
“The change has already been reviewed and the planning commission suggested the same,” he said as he continued to cite his reasons as to why.
“It would only cost more time and more money, both of which are unnecessary.”
Those costs refer to the project’s legal and engineering costs.
Another Maxatawny resident, John Zima, agreed, citing “that the planning commission felt that the project was cost prohibitive.”
Board Solicitor Jill Nagy attempted to ease their concerns by reminding them that in the case of the hearing, Tucker would have to “pay all expenses no matter what.” The only matter that would have to be considered is the township’s comprehensive plan, which does not yet involve either Kutztown or Lyons, she said.
The Board passed a motion to hold a hearing, but the township has not yet announced a date.
In other news, new managing owner of Sittler Mobile Homes, Josh Moser, as well as the owner of Discovery Homes, Steve Souder, requested permission to build a model home.
“We want people to notice our homes, but most importantly we want them to notice our community,” said Souder.
Board Chairman Allen Leiby, said, “Welcome to the neighborhood.”
In other news, the Board also voted to approve a resident’s zoning request to build a driveway. The Board’s only previous concern was the driveway’s closeness to the property line.
While the Board currently allows for owners to build within five feet of the line, it’s main concern was with how close the addition would be in proximity to the property’s waterline, which could make water drainage an issue.
Despite the Board’s concerns, the motion was approved.
Earlier in the meeting, the board also discussed the recent snow storms and their staff’s ability to handle them.
When opened up for comments from the audience, a member of Kutztown Community Library’s Board of Trustees Mary Laub said, “That was quite the storm, or for me at least. I thought you all did a very good job. Thank you.”
The board is scheduled to meet again March 9.
