City Administrator Joe Hennessy told council Wednesday that the governor awarded the City of Sunbury a $4,050,000 grant intended to assist with updating its zoning code, with the primary focus on the Sunbury Parkway district.

Hennessy said Sunbury was the only community in Delaware County to receive the award and among a limited number statewide. “The goal primarily is to spend that to on the Sunbury Parkway district plan,” he said, explaining that zoning designations in that corridor need to be created or refined.

Hennessy told council the total local cost for the immediate zoning-code work is expected to be roughly $70,000; $50,000 of that will come from the state grant. Staff said the grant award will support creation of district-specific zoning text and implementation work included in the packet.

Council members welcomed the award and staff said next steps will include detailed scoping and consultant selection to perform the code update and district planning work. Hennessy said more information will be provided as staff advances consultant procurement and project scoping.