Boards and Commissions

Zoning Hearing Board

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The South Whitehall Township Zoning Hearing Board is a five-member board of residents appointed by the Board of Commissioners. They serve a 5 year term or until they are replaced by the BOC.  They serve voluntarily without pay.

 

Zoning Hearing Board Members

 

  • Don Klein | Chairman (Term expiration: 3/2025*)
  • David Eisenberg | Vice Chairman (Term expiration: 3/2023*)
  • Kenneth Navitsky |  Secretary (Term expiration: 10/2023*)
  • Lee Solt | Member (Term expiration: 7/2026)
  • Dennis Toomey | Member (Term expiration: 10/2023*)
  • David Melman  |  Alternate Member  (Term expiration:  12/2030)
  • Vacancy  |  Alternate Member
  • Vacancy  |  Alternate Member
  • Thomas H. Dinkelacker | Solicitor
  • Marc S. Fisher | Alternate Solicitor

 

* Or until a successor is appointed by the Board of Commissioners.

 

If you are interested in serving on this Board, please click on the Volunteer Board Member Application link below to print out, complete, and return to the Township as explained on the form - There are currently (2) alternate member positions open on the Zoning Hearing Board.

 

Volunteer Board Member Application Form

Letter of Intent for Board Reappointment Form

 

About the Board

The Zoning Hearing Board is a quasi-judicial body that reviews appeals under the Township Zoning Ordinance. Therefore, they should not be directly contacted by any person having an interest in an appeal. Communication with the Zoning Hearing Board, prior to a hearing, should be accomplished only through the Zoning Hearing Board’s Solicitor and/or the Township Zoning Officer.

The Zoning Hearing Board's Solicitor is Thomas H. Dinkelacker.

The Township’s Interim Zoning Officer is Dave Manhardt.

The Zoning Hearing Board hears the following types of appeals:

  • Requests for variances: Variances are dispensations from the strict provisions of the Zoning Ordinance granted by the Zoning Hearing Board. Normally they are only granted when the applicant can demonstrate that physical constraints make it impossible or unduly burdensome to comply with the Zoning Ordinance. Also, the variance requested should not put the property out of character with the surrounding neighborhood. The Zoning Hearing Board may, if it wishes to, establish conditions of approval in rendering a decision.
  • Requests for a Favorable Interpretation: Where there is a conflict between the applicant’s reading of the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Officer’s reading of the Ordinance, the applicant can appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board for a favorable interpretation that agrees with his/her own.
  • Special Exceptions: Certain schedules for certain zone districts have “Special Exception Uses” contained within them. Special Exception Uses are permitted uses that may be potentially detrimental. They are permitted only after a review by the Zoning Hearing Board, and permission is subject to any conditions the Zoning Hearing Board may attach.
  • Temporary Uses: When an event or activity that is not specifically listed as a permitted use in the Zoning Ordinance is planned for a short duration of time, applicants shall first seek permission from the Zoning Hearing Board. They must comply with any conditions the Board attaches.
  • Validity Challenges to the Land Use Ordinance: From time to time, the Township’s Land Use Ordinance may be challenged by a person who alleges defects in the Ordinance or raises procedural-type questions.

Applications for an appeal must be submitted by 4:00 PM on the cut-off date for the meeting as listed below. A copy of the Zoning Appeal Application can be found HERE.  The Zoning Hearing Board normally meets only on the fourth Wednesday of each month. The event calendar can be found at the bottom of this page. The overflow hearing dates are for emergency purposes only. Written decisions of the Board are sent to the appellants (and objectors, if any) within 45 days after the decision is announced.

 

Meeting Schedule and Information

All meetings are open to the public.
This Board meets at 7:00 PM in the Public Meeting Room of the Township Municipal Building , 4444 Walbert Avenue. 

Zoning Hearing Board hearing exhibits from past meetings, along with the Zoning Appeal Application and hearing procedures, can be found in the "Zoning Hearing Board Documents" section located at the top left of this page. Exhibits for upcoming meetings will be posted within the event notification found on the homepage.

Meeting Dates and Information:

2026 ZHB - Calendar - Dates

Zoning Hearing Board

Zoning Hearing Board meetings are held in person at the Township Municipal Building at 4444 Walbert Ave. They are also streamed on-line via the link found below. Please note that no virtual public participation will be allowed and no recording of the hearing will be posted on the Township website.

Learn more about the Zoning Hearing Board HERE.

The Public Meeting Rules can be found HERE.

 

Public Notice:

PUBLIC NOTICE

 

Notice is hereby given that the Zoning Hearing Board of South Whitehall Township will hold a public hearing on WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025, at 7:00 P.M. in the South Whitehall Township Municipal Building located at 4444 Walbert Avenue, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, for the following zoning appeals:

ZHB-2024-02:  The Appeal of Tilghman Holdings L LC, seeking to establish a Special Exception Use of Outdoor Storage, Section 350-48(o)(8)(C) as a second Primary Use to a Coordinated Development for the storage of trucks and tractor cabs in accordance with Section 350-24(c)(14); seeking a Special Exception from Section 350-42(b)(3) from buffer strip to modify the requirements where the subject property abuts PA Turnpike right-of-way; Variance relief from Section 350-48(o)(8)(E)(i) from the requirement of an 8’ chain-link fence and visual screen where a 6’ chain-link fence exist without a visual screen; Variance relief from Section 350-48(o)(8)(E)(ii) and Section 350-24(c)(14) for a 25- feet side yard setback where PA Turnpike Right-of-Way abuts lot line; Variance relief from Section 350-(c)(11)(D), Section 350-48(o)(8)(D), and Section 350-48(r)(9)  for minimum off-street parking requirements for Coordinated Developments, Outdoor Storage, and retail sales to allow for 57 less parking spaces than required for the Uses; and a Variance from Section 350-42(i) Illumination to limit the effects of sky glow and to permit existing wall pack lighting as approved by the UCC Building Code Official; and Variance relief from Section 350-48(c)(11)(E)(v) the combined development shall be considered as a single tract with regard to setbacks.  The subject property is zoned HC-1 (Highway Commercial-Special Height Limitation). The subject parcel address is 4750 Tilghman Street. Tax ID No. 547654969042 1.

ZHB-2025-02:  The Appeal of George Sam seeking dimensional relief from Section 350-48(p)(2) to establish a Personal Service Business Use where 18 parking spaces are required, and 9 are provided; a dimensional variance from Section 350-48(o)(2)(E)(iv) Parking Area Setbacks where 25 feet is required for front yards, 15 feet for side yards and zero feet is provided; and Section 350-42 Buffer Strips where a 15-foot wide buffer strip is required and zero is proposed.  The subject property is located in the NC District (Neighborhood Commercial) and Personal Service Business and Mixed-Use Buildings are a permitted use by right. Parcel address is 2232 Walbert Avenue, Tax ID No. 548785840032.

The above-referenced properties are in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA.  Copies of any plans, applications, and/or supporting documents that were submitted are available for public inspection at the Township Building during normal business hours where they may be examined without charge or obtained for a charge not greater than the cost thereof (it is recommended that appointments be made in advance).  All appellants or their authorized representatives must attend.  All objectors and interested parties are invited to attend and will have the opportunity to be heard.

 

Laura Harrier, Zoning Officer

 

  

Case Information:

ZHB-2024-02:

 ZHB-2024-02 - Tilghman Holdings LLC - Packet - 2025.05.28 Hearing

 

ZHB-2025-02:

 ZHB-2025-02 - George Sam - Packet - 2025.05.28 Hearing

 

 

Virtual Meeting Link Information:

 

SWT Zoning Hearing Board Hearing

Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone HERE.

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