By Jewels Phraner

Published: Wednesday, January 2, 2013, 9:58 a.m.
Updated: Wednesday, January 2, 2013

The Ligonier Zoning Hearing Board will have to issue another decision on whether it favors allowing an East Main Street property to be subdivided into two lots.

The plan calls for one lot to be smaller than what is required by the borough zoning ordinance.

The zoning board approved the variance in July. New Jersey resident William Hoover, acting on behalf of property owner Ruth Conrad, asked to divide the lot, which contains a single-family home and a duplex.

The ordinance requires that each parcel have at least 4,000 square feet of land in the village residential district. That meant that Hoover needed 12,000 square feet or seek the variance.

Hoover claimed the 10,500-square-foot property at 318 E. Main St. would not sell unless it was divided and sold as two separate parcels.

Conrad, Hoover's aunt and her husband built the structures in 1965. They rented out the duplex and lived in the home for several decades, according to Hoover.

Hoover said in July that during the few weeks the property had been on the market, no one was interested in owning both buildings.

After the board decided to waive the size requirement on one of the parcels, Ligonier Borough Council voted 6-1 to challenge the decision in Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court.

Council members said they feared allowing the variance would set an unfavorable precedent.

Both sides entered a consent decree because the property had not been posted by Zoning Officer Chick Cicconi.

That means the issue will return to the board when it meets at 7 p.m. on Jan. 28 at town hall.

Jewels Phraner is a reporter for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-850-1218 or jphraner@tribweb.com.

1. Ligonier-area voters head to polls Tuesday
2. R.K. Mellon offers life-skills program for autistic students
3. Expanded drop-off lane at Ligonier Valley YMCA to relieve congestion
4. Ligonier Valley groups promote hope, health and history
5. 24-hour Relay for Life event starts Friday at Ligonier Diamond

There are currently no comments for this story.
Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.