Save Mauch Chunk Lake

Last evening I attended a meeting of the Jim Thorpe Borough Council.  Members are discussing whether to change the zoning on a piece of property near Mauch Chunk Lake, currently used for recreation and water supply for the town.  Both the borough’s Planning Commission and the County Planners have rejected a proposed development along the lake.

In the past I served on the Planning Commission of Towamensing Township.  There is a procedure to follow.  Plans come before the Planning Commission.  The plans are also reviewed by the Carbon County Planners to see whether or not they are in compliance with the County plan.  After recommendations by those two bodies, the plans go before the governing body, which in most cases approves what the planner recommended.  

I never heard our Board of Supervisors propose a zoning change to accommodate a property owner who was denied by the planners.  In some cases the decision was appealed to a Zoning Hearing Board, but that in itself had legal procedures to be followed.

The Jim Thorpe Council is not following these procedures.  The Mayor, who only votes in case of a tie, stated publicly at the meeting that he would not vote for a zoning change if the issue came before him on a tie vote.  Only one Council member was willing to say she would oppose a zoning change.  All the others sat silently.