Lackawaxen Township board proposes zoning change

By TOM KANE

LACKAWAXEN, PA - After losing a section of the township that allowed commercial development, the Lackawaxen Township board wants to create two new zones that would allow such development.

They held a public hearing on five proposed zoning changes on December 13 to review them.

The loss of the Neighborhood Development Zone (ND), which allows commercial development, was because of a request by the Tennessee Gas Pipe Line Company to change the zoning to residential (R1). The company has a pumping station located at the site and has the right to ask for the change.

The zoning changes at the other sites were the decision of township officials and not as a result of a request from any other property owner, Gelderman said.

“We don’t want the township to become all residences without a place for a dentist’s office or a doctor’s office or a small general store where local people could shop instead of driving miles to a store,” said Fred Gelderman, vice chairman of the board that ran the public hearing for chairman Brian Stuart, who was unable to attend. “To have just all residential development is not to the advantage of the township, since it costs more to provide services for them than the township gets back in taxes.”

Two of the properties would be rezoned to ND from residential. Three others would be changed to residential development in order to remove some inconsistencies in the zoning, Gelderman said.

The five proposed changes are: one on Route 6, which will be changed to R1 from Rural District (RU), two along Route 590 near Woodloch Springs, which will be changed to ND from RU, a fourth ND on West Colang Road and a fifth on West Shore Drive, which will be changed to R1 from RU.

A number of residents attended the meeting since they were informed of the changes. It is the duty of the township to notify property owners near the sites since they may be adversely affected. When asked what they thought, several said they needed more time to study the changes.

The map with the proposed changes is available for inspection at the township office, Gelderman said.

No decision about the proposed changes will be made until January of 2008.