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 - CANCELLED

Cut-Off Date: December 23, 2025, Overflow Hearing Date: February 5, 2026.

 

 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

CONTINUED TO THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026

 

Notice is hereby given that the Zoning Hearing Board of South Whitehall Township will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 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 appeal:

 

ZHB-2025-01: Appeal of Ingerman Construction Management, LLC, 5 Powell Lane, Collingswood, NJ, 08108 (Owner, Calvary Temple of Allentown, PA, 3436 Winchester Road, Allentown, PA 18104, requesting the following relief for property at 3436 Winchester Road, PIN 548722977224 -1 and -2:

(1). An Interpretation that Applicant’s plan complies with Section 350-48(d)(5)(E)(i)[2], formerly Section 350-48(d)(4)(E)(i)[2], requiring apartment buildings to front on an improved street in accordance with Section 350-42(g) or upon a courtyard or a close fronting said street, or in the alternative Applicant seeks a variance from said Section;

(2). An Interpretation that Applicant’s plan complies with 350-42(g), requiring a use or building to have frontage on a public street improved to Township standards or a private street because (a)  proposed Lot 2 has over 500’ of frontage on Winchester Road and there is no minimum “Build-To” distance; or (b) in the alternative an interpretation that Lot 2 is via a private street and no right of way applies as the private street is designed and constructed to Township standards; or in the alternative to (a) and (b), Applicant seeks a variance;

(3). An interpretation that Applicant’s plan complies with Section 350-42(d)(4)(C) requiring among other things, that if the frontage of the lot or tract is greater than 300 feet, centerlines of driveways on the same tract shall be no closer to each other than 250 feet at the curbline, or the alternative Applicant seeks a variance; and

(4). A variance from Section 350-48(p)(4)(D) to authorize 342 parking spaces for a Place of Worship where 445 parking spaces are required.

The subject property is in the R-10 Zoning District (High Density Residential) and Apartment Buildings and Places of Worship are permitted uses by right. Copies of any plans, applications, and/or supporting documents submitted to the Township are available for public inspection at the Township Building, located at the above address, 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 Applicants or their authorized representatives must attend.  All objectors and interested parties are invited to attend and will have the opportunity to be heard.

David Manhardt, Zoning Officer

 

  

Case Information:

 

ZHB-2025-01:

ZHB-2025-01 - Calvary Temple  - Packet - 2026.01.28 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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