Mauch Chunk Lake was built in the early 1970s. It protected the area along Broadway from flooding and was a major factor in the rebirth of the town. It also provided a drinking water supply for much of the town and a recreation area for residents. The land surrounding the lake was part of the borough of Jim Thorpe, and restrictive zoning ensured that development would not take place.
Recently a developer with knowledge of the restrictive zoning bought over 50 acres at a low price. He then asked the Jim Thorpe Borough Council to change to zoning to allow him to build homes with septic systems.
It was the rezoning proposal that Save Carbon County, an environmental group founded by people who successfully fought the PennEast Pipeline, opposed. The group attended Council meetings and on Thursday held a demonstration in front of the Courthouse Annex with about 25 people, including two Jim Thorpe Council members. And last night the group showed up at the Council meeting with about 75 people in attendance, quietly holding signs that said “Save the Lake.”
The Council voted 6-0 to keep the restrictive zoning as it is currently. No houses. No septic tanks. No polluting run-off. It was a great victory. I was proud to play a small roll in that victory. And I was awed by Linda, who played a very large role, organizing, raising money, ordering signs, doing the research, getting press, lobbying council members, and we won.
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