The Gilpin Township supervisors have awarded a contract to Mackin Engineering to overhaul the township’s decades-old zoning ordinances.

The supervisors voted 4-0, with Supervisor Linda Alworth absent, to hire the firm April 12 for just under $39,000 for the project.

Gilpin has zoning laws, which only allow certain types in of land use in a particular area. Zoning districts in Gilpin include Conservation, Agricultural, Residential (R-1-2), Business and Industrial.

Gilpin’s zoning ordinance was passed in 1985. Gilpin Supervisor Charles Stull said, since being elected in 2018, he’s pushed for updated zoning and map ordinances.

“Most planning consultants recommend refreshing zoning every 10 to 15 years,” Stull said.

With offices in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Mackin Engineering specializes in community planning, ordinance development and administration.

The process is expected to take 13 months, Stull said. The supervisors have established a project steering committee.

“It’s time we bring our zoning into the 21st century to allow for further growth and development within the township from both a business and residential standpoint,” Stull said. “Our current ordinance is a hindrance to both residents and businesses within the township due to its age.”

The rural Armstrong County township was settled in 1814 and incorporated in 1878.

Stull pointed to at-home, online businesses as a “hardship” example that township officials didn’t have to deal with back in the 1980s when e-commerce didn’t exist.

“Because that was not heard of in 1985, zoning does not list these types of businesses as an allowable, or even conditional use, in a residential district,” Stull said.

Stull said, in short, it’s too hard to say what changes will happen.

“This process will allow for public meetings and hearings to gather information from residents,” Stull said. “I’m hoping we see a good turnout of residents to help steer this process.”

Stull offered some examples of residential zoning laws: Restrictions on noise levels, setbacks on property lines, preventing short-term rentals such as Airbnb, preventing certain businesses from building too close to residential areas and keeping residential areas strictly residential with no businesses.

Supervisor Kris Kulick said he’s hopeful the new zoning will permit more residential areas to be zoned commercial, potentially allowing for more business growth.

“It will allow businesses to move into the area with less red tape,” Kulick said. “We should make it easier and should bow down to new businesses wanting to move here.”

Stull estimated the township is zoned about 40% agricultural, 30% residential, 10% commercial, 10% industrial and 10% conservation.

Stull agreed with Kulick that more commercial zoning is needed.

The current business district follows Route 66 from Leechburg to Godfrey Road, ending there.

“I personally feel all of Route 66 should be a business district — from one end of the township to the other,” Stull said.

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