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Hempfield Zoning Hearing Board ratifies earlier buffer reduction, approves home-addition setback variance and tables commercial buffer appeal
Summary
At its May 12 meeting, the Hempfield Township Zoning Hearing Board ratified a prior hearing officer decision granting a reduced buffer for an industrial parcel, approved a front-yard setback variance for an addition at 272 Wyoming Street with a required survey condition, and tabled a commercial buffer request to June 9 because of an incorrect tax map designation.
Hempfield Township’s Zoning Hearing Board met May 12, 2026, in Greensburg and took three actions on appeals affecting buffer and setback requirements.
The board unanimously adopted the Hearing Officer’s April 14 findings and decision in Appeal ZHB 26-6, granting a request by Robert Deglau on behalf of Zane Stout to reduce a required buffer area from 30 feet to 10 feet for a Light Industrial–zoned parcel on Woodward Drive Extension (Tax Map No. 50-21-00-0-009). Solicitor Brenda Sebring asked the board to adopt the Hearing Officer’s findings before the board voted to approve the decision.
The board also heard Appeal ZHB-26-7, an application by Mandi Leonard seeking a variance under Article XXV, Section 87-179 B(1)(a) to construct an addition to a single-family residence at 272 Wyoming Street (Tax Map No. 50-21-05-0-160), in Village Residential zoning. After testimony from the applicant and township staff, Chair Woody Weissinger moved to approve the requested variance; Vice Chairman Robert Whisner seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The approval is conditioned on the applicant submitting a survey showing the footprint and dimensions of the addition; that survey must be incorporated into the decision prepared by the board solicitor. A second requested variance related to Chapter 87, Attachment 3, Table 3 (bulk and area standards) was withdrawn after the board determined no variance was required.
Appeal 26-8, a request by John Cenkner on behalf of Michael Hoffer for a reduced buffer under Article XXIII, Section 87-159 A(1) for a property at 708 Reynolds Street (Tax Map No. 50-37-07-0-030) in Neighborhood Commercial zoning, was tabled. On the record, township staff and the applicant identified an improper tax map designation; the applicant agreed to table the request to the board’s June 9, 2026 meeting and the matter will be re-advertised. The transcript does not record a board vote on the tabling.
Votes at a glance: ZHB 26-6 (buffer reduction for Woodward Drive Extension) — board approved adoption of Hearing Officer decision (mover: Roy Bodnar; seconder: Robert Jackson; vote: unanimous). ZHB-26-7 (variance for addition at 272 Wyoming Street) — approved with condition requiring a survey (mover: Woody Weissinger; seconder: Robert Whisner; vote: unanimous). ZHB 26-8 (buffer reduction for 708 Reynolds Street) — tabled to June 9, 2026; will be re-advertised (no board vote recorded in transcript).
The board’s actions affect three property addresses in Hempfield Township and clarify that, in at least one case, staff and the board expect a survey to be filed before a variance is finalized. The meeting convened at 6:05 p.m. and adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
Next steps: the applicant for Appeal 26-8 is scheduled to return on June 9, 2026 after re-advertisement; the decision for ZHB-26-7 will include the required survey as a condition of approval.
