North Manheim Township Zoning Hearing Board approves helipad

April 23--The North Manheim Township Zoning Hearing Board granted a special exception to Mount Carbon-North Manheim Township Fire Company No. 1 on Tuesday for building a firehouse and helipad near Hoss's Steak & Sea House in the township.

After the approval, Larry Moore, president of the fire company said he felt "great."

"We're going to get the shovel in the ground ASAP," he said, adding work could start at the new site in early summer.

The fire company, 120 Main St., Mount Carbon, lost its headquarters when it was destroyed Oct. 4, 2013, by a fire that started in a nearby house.

Mount Carbon-North Manheim Township Fire Company wants to build a firehouse at an 8.384-acre site it owns near Hoss's and rebuild at the site of its former headquarters. The Mount Carbon borough council must approve any plans for the rebuilding of the 120 Main St. firehouse and has not yet done so, Moore said.

Funds for the rebuilding will come from insurance money.

The 23-minute hearing for the special exception on Tuesday in the township municipal building, 303 Manheim Road, was a continuance of a prior hearing held March 31, which lasted more than three hours.

A special exception from the township zoning ordinance was requested and changed from a variance at the last hearing because a variance use was not permitted.

The exception is needed because the use of the land was not specifically stated in the zoning ordinance.

Board members may consider "any other uses as determined by the board to be of the same general characteristics as the permitted uses," the zoning ordinance states.

Among other allowable uses, government offices are permitted in the C-2, general commercial district.

William C. Reiley, attorney for the zoning hearing board, gave a brief overview of the discussion of the last hearing.

Both the township represented by attorney Thomas Lisella and Rick Yutko of WJP Engineers, Pottsville, also did not have anything additional to add before the three-member board went into deliberations.

When the board finished deliberating, separate votes were then taken for use of the fire company and helipad.

By an unanimous vote, the board voted for each use.

The approval of the use of the helipad had three conditions. Those conditions were that the helipad be for emergency and noncommercial use only, all applicable approvals from governmental agencies must be granted and an airport hangar is not permitted.

Permits must be given by the state Department of Transportation Bureau of Aviation.

Approval from the Federal Aviation Administration is needed for the helipad, which includes any lighting and a wind indicator and the landing site.

A diagram of the plans for the site show the proposed size of the building as 3,550 square feet. There are 15 parking spaces along with a helipad away from the building.

The fire company will connect to public water and sewer.

Reiley said he will issue a written decision that will be given to all applicable parties, which could be within 10 days.

An appeal is permitted 30 days after the written decision is given to those involved, Reiley said.

In making its ruling, the board decided it did not want to weigh in on the issue of the cell tower or the deed restrictions.

A history of the transfer of the property was stated and what it can be used for, a public park or municipal use at the earlier hearing.

Steve Moyer, township zoning officer, said previously the use of the fire company and helipad would be classified as municipal use.

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