Riverwalck gets extension to apply for variance

A Parryville restaurant owner was given an extension of 90 days to prepare for an appearance before the Parryville Zoning Hearing Board.

Parryville Council granted the extension to Mark Stemler, owner of Riverwalck, after his attorney, Carole Walbert, said that more time was needed for the engineer to prepare the appeal application based on the findings of Parryville's Zoning Officer Dick Fedor.

Walbert noted that the engineer will need 30 to 60 days to prepare the permit application and that she has to wait for Fedor's actions before she can move for an amendment of the pending zoning application to include items that will be submitted for appeal.

Parryville Borough solicitor Michael S. Greek noted that Walbert agreed to waive the statutory time period for scheduling a public hearing for 90 days. The hearing will be held sometime in April.

The extension will resolve the restaurant's legal issues regarding zoning violations.

Until the hearing is held, Stemler is allowed to protect his property, should a roof blow off, but is not allowed to do any other construction.

An appeal was filed by Stemler for zoning issues, including the two outdoor buildings and the parking issues, plus the rustic entrance way made from tree trunks that Stemler added that restrict the parking lot opening.

If Riverwalk owner Stemler is turned down by the zoning hearing board and if the county court rejects the variance, Stemler will be required to tear down the building and if the construction does not meet the Uniform Construction Code, he may have to tear it down anyway, noted Greek.

Attorney Greg Mousseau is Parryville's solicitor for the zoning hearing board. He replaces attorney Steven Serfass, who won the election to become a county judge.

A date has not been set for zoning hearing board to hear the variance request.

During the Parryville meeting held earlier this week, council accepted the resignation of zoning hearing board member Christine Applegate and appointed Greg Hopstock to fill the open seat.

Riverwalck representative Carl Eckhart also attended the meeting to inform council that Riverwalck employees were instructed to not park in the playground parking lot. Eckhart said that many of the employees were young and that they didn't understand that they were parking in a restricted lot.

Council also discussed garbage payments. Michael Grant, council president, noted that overdue garbage bills are down to $6,746, which is an all-time low. Council had discussed holding constable sales for unpaid bills.

Council also discussed the breaking up of Main Road due to the heavy truck traffic that is using the roadway to build the Pennsylvania Turnpike bridge over the Pohopoco Creek and Lehigh River.

Council discussed the possibility of having the turnpike pay some of the resurfacing costs.