North Huntingdon zoning board rejects request for gun shop at banquet center

A North Huntingdon man’s attempt to sell guns in the family’s banquet facility was rejected by a zoning panel.

The North Huntingdon Zoning Hearing Board last week rejected an appeal from James Stratigos, owner of JGS Arms LLC, for an occupancy permit for a gun shop in a section of the Stratigos Banquet Centre. Officials said the property is in a residential zone and already contains a nonconforming use.

Mark Cypher, township zoning officer, denied Stratigos’ request for the permit Sept. 5.

To sell guns on the property at 131 Colonial Manor Road would require another change in the use, and the township’s zoning ordinances do not allow two nonconforming uses on the same parcel, said George Butler, zoning board solicitor.

Butler told Stratigos the zoning hearing board also could not grant his request for a permit because his proposed business did not have a signed lease for the space inside the banquet facility.

Without an occupancy permit from the municipality, Stratigos said he cannot obtain a license from the federal government to sell the guns at the site.

Stratigos said he did not intend to have the banquet center close but planned to be open for gun sales just two days a week for two hours a day, and only taking customers by appointment. The gun shop was to have its own entrance, and the guns were to be stored in a secured storage area inside the rear of the building, where an office and conference room is located.

Zoning board member Brian Crow said while he had no objections to operating a firearms business at the site, the ordinance does not allow for a second nonconforming use.

Stratigos said he did not know if he would appeal the decision to the Westmoreland County Court. The decision was “cut and dried,” said his father, Harry Stratigos.