Hazleton City Council approves updated zoning regulations | State | #citycouncil


Hazleton City Council recently approved updated zoning regulations that an administrator said will put the city in position to stay ahead of trends with housing and businesses.

Council approved four pages of amendments to zoning regulations that were overhauled in September 2021.

Mayor Jeff Cusat said the latest changes were requested by the zoning department.

“Things that weren’t coming up in the past are coming up (now),” he said recently.

Some of the amendments are minor and address typographical errors in the former ordinance while others address nationwide trends such as a demand for smaller homes and parking requirements for multi-family dwellings.

The multi-family provision pertains to buildings with three or more apartment units. In those scenarios, regulations that formerly required three parking spaces for each dwelling unit have been changed to require three spaces plus an additional space for every bedroom when a building has more than three units.

A multi-family building with three units and five bedrooms, for example, would require five parking spaces.

Parking regulations for all other housing scenarios have not changed.

Additional amendments include provisions that no longer permit multi-family use in R-1 and R-2 residential zoning districts. That use would be permitted by special exception in an R-2 district.

Another change requires properties to be used as a restaurant to allow guests to bring their own bottle of alcohol.

The previous ordinance mischaracterized BYOB establishments as nightclubs, City Solicitor Sean Logsdon said. Under the revised regulations, BYOB would be considered an “accessory use” in central commercial and commercial highway zoning districts.

Other amendments were presented in response to the demand for parking, as places of worship or churches are not permitted in residential districts. They would, however, be permitted by right in central commercial and commercial highway districts.

The ordinance was also updated to include regulations that define and apply to “tiny homes” and “tiny home developments.”

Both would be permitted in R-3 (residential) zoning districts. The proposal defines “tiny homes” as a principal residential detached dwelling unit that has a total floor area of 500 to 750 square feet.

The updated ordinance lists the minimum size for sleeping areas and ceiling height for tiny homes and requires public water and sewage service, as well as functioning cooking, sleeping, toiletry and living areas.



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Cusat said the smaller of the dimensions are equivalent to the size of a two-stall garage.

“This just basically defines what the smallest house could be,” he said when the amended ordinance was first introduced. “People can’t just be living in sheds.”

The updated ordinance also contains regulations for energy-related accessory uses, or rooftop solar panels.

It prohibits people from installing panels no less than six feet from the edge of a roof.

That criteria ensures that rain water and ice build-up would theoretically be addressed by the gutter system, rather than falling onto neighboring properties, Logsdon has said.

Council President Jim Perry said the revised regulations aren’t necessarily the “final say,” as property owners still have the ability to appeal the zoning officer’s ruling before the zoning hearing board.

Residents can also file an appeal and attend a zoning hearing or purchase property that could be used for parking, the mayor said.

Council passed the updated regulations by a 5-0 vote on final reading.

In memoriam

Council adopted a resolution in honor of the late Monica Barletta, a local businesswoman who died Dec. 9.

The resolution recognized her extensive service to the city, which included serving on the board of directors for Hazleton Cancer Society, chairperson for the Nurse of Hope Program, advisory board for the Hazleton Salvation Army, a member of the board of directors for the Meals on Wheels program, member of Easter Seals Society, Hazleton Chapter of Pennsylvanians for Human Life, Hazleton Garden Club, a steering committee member for the Hazleton YWCA, member of the Lehigh Valley Health Network Senior Choice Program and a volunteer of 40 years at the local hospital.

“Monica spent her life serving the city of Hazleton,” the resolution reads. “Monica valued family life. She will be remembered as a loyal friend to many.”

Meeting schedule

Council approved its 2023 meeting schedule. Regular voting meetings will be held at 6 p.m. at City Hall on Jan. 10 and 24, Feb. 14 and 28, March 14 and 28, April 11 and 25, May 9 and 23, June 13 and 27, July 11 and 25, Aug. 8 and 22, Sept. 12 and 26, Oct. 10 and 24, Nov. 7 and 21 and Dec. 5 and 12.

Work sessions will be held as needed following the regular meetings.


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