Berlin eyes zoning law

Joining the UDC is also considered

By FRITZ MAYER

BEACH LAKE, PA — With growing numbers of people moving into Berlin Township, the supervisors think it might be time for the township to consider adopting its first zoning law.

Supervisors chairman Paul Henry brought the matter up at the supervisors meeting on March 18. Supervisors Charles Gries and Tony Franklin indicated that they were amenable to finding out how the residents of the township might feel about such a move.

In a phone interview, Henry said that this is by no means a done deed. He said, “When you mention the ‘Z’ word, some of the residents don’t want to hear anything about it, because they think it’s the government telling them what they can or can’t do with their land.”

Instead, he said, the intention would be to limit some kinds of development that might not be desirable in certain areas. He added that Route 652 is becoming increasingly important for development, and is an important link between the Honesdale-Hawley area in Pennsylvania and the Monticello population center in New York.

Henry would like to have put the matter to a voter referendum, but he said that is not possible under Pennsylvania law. Therefore, the supervisors may consider some kind of survey.

One obstacle to adopting a zoning law might be the cost. Community planner Tom Shepstone told Henry that the cost might be about $25,000.

As a possible source for part of the funding, Henry said the supervisors are considering joining the Upper Delaware Council (UDC). The supervisors sent a letter to the UDC to open a discussion about that possibility. Henry said he believed there might be grants available for projects related to planning.

Henry said no one in the township had heard of any “horror stories” from the other townships resulting from being a member of the organization; therefore it was worth exploration.

Bill Douglass, executive director of the UDC, said if Berlin did join, township officials would be able to apply for technical assistant grants. Also, he said the UDC could assist the township in planning projects in other ways. He said three Pike County townships, Shohola, Lackawaxen and Westfall, have been members of the UDC for 20 years, and the organization would welcome participation from Berlin Township, as well as the three other eligible townships in Wayne County.