Zoning Hearing Board

The primary purpose of this 3-member board is to help ensure fair and equitable application and administration of the zoning ordinance by hearing appeals on the zoning officer's determinations 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, it can neither make nor modify zoning policy. Neither does the Zoning Hearing Board have enforcement powers. It is a quasi-judicial body; that is, its powers are to some extent judicial in nature. The board schedules hearings on applications and appeals that come before it, takes evidence and issues written decisions with findings of fact and conclusions of law. It must limit its scope of activities to those permitted by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) and by the Borough's Zoning Ordinance. The members of the board serve 4-year overlapping terms and are appointed by Borough Council. The Zoning Hearing Board meetings are scheduled for the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Municipal Building, provided that there is business to conduct.