The North East Borough Zoning Hearing Board met Monday evening, June 8th, and denied the conditional use permit for a smoke shop in the former Rite Aid building on West Main Street. Mohamed Saleh who appealed the former ruling where he was already denied, failed to show for the hearing, though many members of the community did show and voiced their opposition as well as noting several legal deficiencies in his request. The zoning ordinance forbids the placement and a special exception would have been necessary to open a shop at that location.
The zoning board also denied the request for a variance from LECOM to place a 4×8 foot LED sign in front of Parkside Manor on Gibson Street. After hearing from a local attorney acting on their behalf and a representative of the sign company, many residents weighed in and noted the historic nature of Gibson Park and how a large LED sign would not fit into the surroundings. The zoning board agreed and did not allow the variance.
Also decided was a variance for an attached garage on West Main Street which will be closer to the property line than the required distance. This was a matter from a previous meeting and the board allowed the variance.
The notice for the hearing was posted on May 26th.