OLD FORGE - A plan to build 18 townhouses on the 600 block of Milwaukee Avenue has inched closer to reality as an Old Forge developer received preliminary permission to build, but parts of his plan need to be amended.
The Old Forge Zoning Board voted unanimously Thursday, with member Carol Terruso absent, granting a special exceptions use that allows George Dunbar Jr., president, Maple Leaf Village Inc., to build townhouses in the R-1 zone after his attorney Jim Tressler argued that a 1999 amendment to the zoning ordinance approved the building of townhouses in such zones as adequate exceptions.
However, out of six variances Mr. Dunbar requested, two were rejected. A request to increase maximum lot coverage for "impervious surfaces" from 35 percent of each lot to 75 percent of each lot was unanimously denied. A request to decrease the rear lot setback of the properties from 30 feet to the next property to 10 feet also was denied.
Some residents voiced concerns. John Glevick, who lives across the street from the proposed development, said he is worried about the number of townhouses proposed. "(It would be) 18 versus six across the street," Mr. Glevick said, referencing the number of houses each side of the street would see.
The plan still needs approval from both the planning commission and the borough council.
Board Chairman James Paddock said if anyone disagrees with the special exception, they have 30 days from the ruling to take it to the county court. Mr. Dunbar likewise has 30 days to appeal to county court regarding the denied variances, but he indicated the plan would likely just be amended to fit the zoning requirements. "We need to adjust the plan slightly and then march forward," Mr. Dunbar said.
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