Zoning
Zoning & Planning
Zoning
The Office of Zoning’s responsibilities include the following:
- Reading and interpreting the City’s ordinances
- Zoning permits
- Driveway permits
- Sign permits
- Subdivision & Land Development
- Conditional Uses, Variances, floodplain Management
- Ordinance development
- Stormwater management
- Zoning & Planning Ordinances
- Zoning Map
- Gary Knarr
- Zoning Administrator
- (570) 327-7527
Zoning Hearing Board
The primary purpose of the 5-member Zoning Hearing Board is to help ensure fair and equitable application and administration of the zoning ordinance by hearing the appeals on the zoning official’s determination and by granting relief from the literal enforcement of the ordinance in certain hardship situations by granting a variance
The Board has no legislative power, enforcement powers and cannot modify zoning policy. It is a quasi-judicial body; that is, its powers are to some extent judicial in nature.
The board meets every 3rd Thursday of the month as needed, and members serve 3-year terms and are managed by the Zoning Official.
Planning Commission
The City’s Planning Commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the Mayor to act as advisors on matters of community growth and development. The planning Commission may be required to assist and prepare a Comprehensive Plan, to prepare and make recommendations on the official map and/or to prepare Land Use Control Ordinances including Zoning Ordinances and subdivision and land development Ordinances. The Planning Commission can also serve as a way for citizens to make their views known on growth, planning, and the direction the City is taking
Commission members serve four-year terms, or until his successor is appointed and qualified, except that the terms of the members first appointed pursuant to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code known as Act 247 (53 P. S. §10101 et seq.) shall be so fixed that no more than three shall be reappointed or replaced during any future calendar year.
The Planning Commission is managed by Gary Knarr, Zoning Administrator.