East Hanover supervisors consider nonconforming use replacement

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At Tuesday’s meeting, the East Hanover Board of Supervisors heard that Zook Rentals, which owns 10669 Jonestown Road, has requested a variance to be able to tear down and replace existing nonconforming uses.

Though the lot is zoned low-density residential, it already contains four stand-alone single-bedroom apartments and a four-apartment building. Owners wish to tear down all five structures and replace them with one two-story building containing eight larger apartments.

Zook Rentals has requested a variance to the township’s zoning ordinance, which does not permit demolished nonconforming uses to be reconstructed. However, as solicitor Colleen Gallo noted, variance requirements can be exceedingly difficult to meet.

The planning commission recommended supervisors consider amending the ordinance to allow the rebuilding of nonconforming structures through special exception, which would still allow the township to place reasonable conditions on rebuilding.

Township manager Erik Harmon said benefits to allowing the reconstruction include that any new construction would need to meet modern building and safety codes — which may not be met by existing structures.

“It’s a place that could use some improvement, and I think we have a property owner here that is interested in improving the property,” said Harmon. “I understand the intent of the ordinance as written; the intent really is to kind of squeeze out these nonconforming uses. The side effect to that is we’re making it hard for these buildings to be improved, and it almost promotes them to being kept in a state of disrepair.”

Though no action was taken, supervisors indicated they would be agreeable to an amendment.

“This is a case you can’t remodel; it don’t make any sense to remodel,” said chairman Ed Heagy. “It’s better to turn around and start from scratch.”

The board also unanimously agreed to pass an ordinance repealing traffic impact fees, citing that since its adoption in 2010, it hasn’t been used.

Harmon said a study to update the ordinance was estimated to cost $80,000. Supervisors said they can reinstate the fees at a later time if they wish, but as of now costs are prohibitive.

Supervisors also unanimously passed an ordinance raising supervisor pay to a maximum of $3,145, though this rate would only take place for newly elected supervisors. Discussion has been ongoing several months, with compensation not having increased in over 10 years.

In other news, supervisors:

• Unanimously agreed to pass an ordinance vacating Levitz Park Road, which is the driveway to the park. Heagy said he did not know why the driveway was considered a public road in the first place.
• Unanimously approved a stormwater management plan for lot #13 in Hilltop Drive, as well as waivers recommended by the planning commission. The plan includes a 4,020-square-foot dwelling, a 1,900-square-foot building, and driveways totaling 10,629 square feet exiting into the cul-de-sac on Hilltop Drive.

• Tabled a request from a property owner on Log Cabin Drive to reexamine speed limit, as the road technically has a speed limit of 55 mph. Supervisors cited high advertising fees, but directed Harmon to look into other roads that may need speed limits reevaluated so that multiple speed limit changes could be advertised simultaneously. Roads would also need traffic studies performed which justify speed limit changes.
• Unanimously approved a $1,750 quote from Gerhart’s Painting to stain the cabin, to be paid out of the recreation fund.
• Unanimously authorized park overseers to purchase a new refrigerator, not to exceed $1,500. This comes after a budgeted $1,000 for a new fridge for the lodge was not needed, as a fridge was donated.
• Unanimously approved a $20 monthly Digital Banking Plus plan, which allows access of specific accounts by specified individuals.
• Chose not to act on a request from the owner of 18 Webster School Road, which has two driveways, to offically designate one driveway entrance-only.
• Unanimously authorized the sending of delinquent sewer accounts to Gallo.
• Unanimously approved minutes and bills.

The East Hanover Township Board of Supervisors meets the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.