Politics & Government
Emmaus Borough Council Approves Zoning Code Amendment
Non-profit groups holding same event annually won't need to go before the zoning hearing board year after year.
voted unanimously Monday night to make exceptions the rule – at least in a manner of speaking.
By a vote of 7-0, council amended an existing zoning ordinance dealing with temporary use by special exception to streamline the approval process for non-profit groups like and that hold the in the borough year after year.
The measure passed last night basically says that such groups only need to go before the zoning hearing board one time to get a special exception approved, as long as the group holds the event annually and that the temporary use is predominantly the same.
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If the group skips a year in holding the event, or the event changes substantially, then it must again apply for a special exception and go before the zoning hearing board again.
Borough manager pointed out that the amended ordinance could ultimately save the borough money, both in terms of man-hours dedicated to getting the same groups in front of the zoning hearing board year after year and the court stenographer’s fees spent on the zoning hearings.
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After year one of an annual event, the zoning officer can grant special use permits without involving the zoning hearing board under the new ordinance.
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