Judge to hear arguments in campsites zoning case
A property owners association and a businessman who operates campsites on his property near Lehigh Gorge State Park will be in court this week.
A judge will hear arguments on whether Sunrise Ridge Property Owners Association waited too long to appeal a zoning hearing board decision dealing with a cabins and tent campsites on a nearby property.
The property owners are appealing a decision by the Penn Forest Township Zoning Hearing board to allow Scott Dietrich to operate four tent camping sites and four cabins for campers on his property in the township.
In May, the township zoning hearing board granted a special exception to allow a camp use in an R-2 zoning district. Dietrich’s property has a street address of Acacia Drive.
Dietrich has two tent campsites listed for rent on the website Tentrr.com. The website describes itself as the AirÂbnb of camping.
Sunrise Ridge says that the board abused its discretion because it granted the special exception despite Dietrich not meeting the requirements.
Dietrich argues that the property owners appealed the case too late — more than 30 days after the zoners made their decision.
In a motion filed Sept. 18, Sunrise Ridge POA attorney Geoffrey S. Worthington asked the court to strike the answer and new matter filed by Dietrich.
Worthington says Dietrich must limit his arguments in the case to the issues which the property owners appealed.
The property owners’ appeal itself, which is not part of the hearing, argues that when the zoning hearing board made its decision, it didn’t include the criteria for a special exception.
The lawyer for the zoning hearing board said that during the hearing, Dietrich demonstrated that he complied with all the requirements for a special exception. That includes testimony that the traffic from the campsites wouldn’t be a problem, and the 400-acre site is large enough that the camping won’t impact neighbors.
The hearing will take place at 1:15 p.m. Thursday.
Comments
I got a copy of the appeal back when this (https://www.tnonline.com/penn-forest-won’t-intervene-camping-dispute) was publish. It did not cite one real issue. It was just statements of blaming others for his late appeal. Plus statements that boil down to saying the Penn Forest Township Zoning Hearing board doesn't have to right to make decisions in zone matters.
This hearing has nothing to do with what is right it is all about delaying closure and collecting more money for the lawyers as well as wasting tax payer money.
If anyone wants the appeal documents to read for themselves. Let me know I will sent them.