Washington Township supervisors on Wednesday voted unanimously to review the township's outdated zoning ordinances.
The review was prompted, at least in part, by resident complaints about the size of a large garage recently built on Koslasky Street.
Zoning officer Tim Naulty and Supervisor Jamie Miller said the structure was within the township's requirements for use as a storage facility in a residential neighborhood.
But residents turned in a petition to change storage structure size restrictions and argued that having a warehouse-sized building near their homes is an eyesore that would diminish property values.
Susan Lape, a former township zoning board member, said the supervisors should not dictate what type of structures residents build on their properties as long as they comply with zoning and use requirements.
"Nobody here had a complaint until something went up in their own neighborhood," Lape said.
Miller said the zoning ordinance being addressed and many others on the books were created in 1966.
"What is wrong with our township⢠Forty-three years, and you are still following the same rules and regulations?" resident Gloria Yuschak said.
"With this petition, we will look into this," Miller said.
Naulty said the zoning map he uses is also from 1966 and is poorly marked.
He asked the board to have a new map made, which he said would cost about $10,000.
Supervisor Charles Yusko made a motion to search through the township zoning regulations "line by line" to see what should be updated.
Yusko, Miller and Supervisor Joanne Latkanich all voted in favor.
Miller said the task would be expensive and take years to complete.
