The Borough Assembly is considering simplified local option zoning rules, the process by which neighborhoods of 12 lots or more can propose to ban or support anything from pot cultivation to gravel pits.
Assembly member Brent Johnson co-sponsored the ordinance which states “the current process has made it difficult for citizens wishing to form a local option zone to be successful”.
Asmb. Johnson: “The fact that it’s been in place for at least ten years or more and in that period of time there’s been maybe five local option zones formed.”
The local-options zoning provisions were last rewritten in 2000 and the Borough’s Planning and Legal departments have been reviewing those for months.
Johnson says one of the biggest changes in the proposed rewrite is the size of lot that can be forced by surrounding lots to be included in a local option zone district.
Asmb. Johnson: “Previously there was no specific size of lot that was restricted out so previously a guy could own an 80 acre lot and have the folks around him say ‘Guess what, we’re forcing you into our local option zone [district] and now you can’t have a gravel pit.’ So with the new ordinance the maximum size of lot is five acres, unless, somebody with a larger lot can volunteer to be in but they cannot be forced to be in.”
The planning commission will review the proposed ordinance and take public testimony on January 25 during their 7:30 pm regular meeting.
The Borough Assembly will take public comment on the ordinance at their 6:00 pm, Tuesday, February 2 meeting. Both of those meetings will be in the assembly chambers.