BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 6/24/24 The Special Meeting of Council was held on Monday, June 24, 2024, at 5:00 PM, at the Council Room, 125 So. Walnut Street, First Floor, Slatington, PA 18080. President: David Schnaars Recording Secretary: Daniel Stevens, Borough Manager/Secretary The meeting was called to order by President Schnaars at 5:00 PM with the following in attendance: ROLL CALL: PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS David Schnaars Ronald Kratz Jeralyn Schoch Bryon Reed Zachari Halkias-via phone Lisa Young Kris Porter Ryan Mayberry Daniel Stevens AJ Schwartz- EPD Kevin Steckel Carolyn Yagle - EPD Aaron Schoch NOTIFICATION: President Schnaars announced that all public sessions of Borough Council are electronically recorded and such recordings are maintained as part of the meeting record until the minutes are transcribed and approved by the Board, at which time the recordings shall be erased. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (Agenda and Non-Agenda items) You will have three minutes to address Council from the podium. The three minutes applies to your time at the podium. If you exit the podium, you have yielded the floor, and any time you have remaining, None 6. Detailed discussion and possible actions concerning Northern Lehigh Comprehensive Plan Zoning amendments. Carolyn and AJ from Environmental Planning and Design (EPD) will lead discussion. Carolyn stated that with the official map we will have a document that is a separate document than the zoning map. Carolyn provided both maps to indicate the differences. The map identified the properties that the Borough owns, and she identified each of these areas. Manager Stevens stated that the trailhead is leased from Lehigh County. Most of the Slate Heritage Trail is constructed on private property with permanent easements. Manager Stevens stated that the Borough is currently trying to obtain some of the properties along the Slate Heritage Trail. Those properties are in the Lehigh County Tax Repository. In the existing ordinance there is a RR (rural residential) district. However, the new map does not have RR (rural residential). They have addressed the distinct line of refinements that have been part of a discussion through the last couple of months, and they have been reflected on the map. The map shows the airport overlay, which is established by the FAA. Carolyn pointed out that in the Industrial area, there are some parcels zoned TR (town residential) because they are presently not conforming to the industrial category. Carolyn provided the proposed changes to the Zoning ordinance. The first part is definitions and the next is the Land Use Table. They took the existing structure of sections, and assigned residential and non-residential as to what is permitted by right and what are special exceptions. There are only two that are conditional uses. Carolyn asked the Council concerning those two items if rather than being conditional, is it something they would prefer to have assigned as a special exception instead of conditional use. A special exception would have to go before the Zoning Hearing Board. Accessory usage knowing we have a way in which the Borough consider those accessories uses now, or just carrying that forward. The current ordinance has a very specific set of criteria for dimensions. In the packet there is a section for the specific standards for the special exception uses. Carolyn pointed out that adult business will be coming out of the existing ordinance, as they are now assigned to other communities. Cemeteries, under the current ordinance, are special exception. Cemeteries can be changed to Use by Right. The I definition of use by right is primary use of a lot, ifit meets the standards of the ordinance, it is an appropriate use in the district. The communication tower and antenna center have been added to the ordinance. Carolyn pointed out the criteria for placing a digital antenna system. these are non-tower systems. The social hall and event center is a special exception in the table. Looking at the relationship what is event center VS. a store example, a person can be making crafts and selling them. However, the same person may have a class in the craft which would be an event center. There are two criteria welding shop and wholesale distributor that are conditional uses. Carolyn informed the Council that more work on the comprehensive book will be completed. AJ stated that those properties will be posted of the pending change. Carolyn added that when they are ready to move forward, there will be a 45-day public review period. The Borough does not need to advertise the public review period. However, it will be necessary to advertise a public hearing. The Council agreed that the residents would have to come to Borough Hall and complete aj paper review. Councilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schoch, to move items 86 and 87, the welding shop and wholesale distribution from conditional use to special exemption (SE) use. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. Councilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Steckel, to accept official map of May 20, 2024. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. Councilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Steckel, to approve the proposed Zoning map from May 20, 2024. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. Councilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schoch, to approve the Zoning text changes, the comments from this evening, as well as the final conversion, (which is inclusive of the last go through to make sure they have consistency in their sections, references, and PDF conversion.) President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. President Schnaars would like to place on the next regular council agenda the advertising. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None 8. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: None 9. NEW BUSINESS: None 10. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR - (Agenda Items Only You will have two (2) minutes to address Council from the podium on Agenda Items Only.) None 11. EXECUTIVE SESSION Announcement ofi items discussed in executive session (if necessary) 12. MOTION TO ADJOURN Being no further business, Councilor Mayberry, made the motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schoch, to adjourn the meeting. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. President Schnaars declared the meeting adjourned at 6:35 PM. Daniel L. Stevens Borough Secretary 2