Planning commission approves three lot consolidations and minor subdivisions in county townships

The Carbon County Planning Commission approved three separate minor subdivision and lot consolidation items during its meeting.

Pacnotti Enterprises: Planning staff described a subdivision in Banks Township to combine two tax parcels and create a single 1.453‑acre tract that will include an existing house and an old church site. Staff said the parcel is zoned M‑1 (industrial) and R‑2 (medium‑density residential) and that the proposal conforms to the referenced subdivision and zoning requirements; the commission approved the plan.

Johnson Lane (Tormented Trails), Penn Forest Township: Staff reported a simple lot‑line revision at 81 Johnson Lane that combines two existing lots into a 0.867‑acre tract. The plan showed existing on‑lot water and sewer and existing structures. Staff noted several minor omissions on the submitted plan — the surveyor’s seal was not on the plan, owner certification/signature authorizing staff to inspect the property was incomplete, and significant natural features (trees greater than 8‑inch caliper) were not shown — but said the plan is exempt from standard procedures under the Penn Forest Township minor plan exemption. The commission granted conditional final approval pending completion of the outstanding items.

Donald J. / Eiffert lot combination (Keira Township): Staff described a request to combine two existing lots at an old golf course site in Keira Township into a single 27.77‑acre tract with existing on‑lot water and sewer and existing buildings. Staff said the submission conforms to minor final plan requirements under the township’s land‑development and zoning ordinances, and the commission approved the plan.

Procedural notes: Each item was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition in the meeting transcript. Where staff flagged missing survey or signature items, the commission conditioned final approval on completion of those items or otherwise exempted the plan under minor‑plan provisions.

Why this matters: The approvals consolidate multiple tax parcels and clean up legacy parcel mapping and title issues, and conditional approvals require applicants to provide missing certifications and survey details before final recording. In the Penn Forest item, staff said the township is updating its ordinance and had granted many waivers previously for tree‑caliper requirements, which led to removal of the specific tree‑caliper requirement from the revised ordinance.

Next steps: Where conditional approvals were granted, staff will require submission of outstanding certifications, seals and any required survey corrections prior to final plan recording.