Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Attorney for Crossins questions selective zoning enforcement; Board directs LTL to issue appealable notice if warranted
Summary
Attorney Chris Mullaney told the Board that Donald and Lisa Crossin were singled out for a Courtesy Notice alleging a home‑business violation; the Board said enforcement is complaint‑driven, deferred to LTL Consultants for enforcement action, and directed LTL to issue a Notice of Violation if appropriate.
Attorney Chris Mullaney addressed the Board on behalf of Donald and Lisa Crossin of 1060 Kraussdale Road after his clients received a Courtesy Notice suggesting a zoning violation related to business operations from a residential property.
Mullaney questioned why the Crossins were singled out when, he said, other residents operate landscaping or contracting activities from residential properties across the township. The Board and Township Solicitor Zachary Sivertsen responded that code enforcement is complaint‑driven and that LTL Consultants, the Township's zoning and code enforcement contractor, has authority to issue Notices of Violation when there is sufficient evidence. Solicitor Sivertsen advised that the Board does not typically adjudicate enforcement matters unless voluntary compliance is not achieved and that appeals of formal notices are handled by the Zoning Hearing Board.
Supervisor Dottie Diehl directed LTL to review the Crossin property and issue a Notice of Violation that would be appealable to the Zoning Hearing Board, if appropriate. Supervisors Ben Fiorito and Stefan Laessig indicated agreement; no other supervisor objected.
Why it matters: the exchange clarifies the Township's complaint‑driven enforcement process and records the Board's instruction to the enforcement contractor to pursue formal notice when evidence supports it. The Board's action preserves procedural pathways for appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board rather than converting the Board meeting into an evidentiary hearing.
What happens next: LTL Consultants will review the complaint and, if LTL determines there is sufficient evidence of a violation, issue a Notice of Violation that the Crossins could appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board. The Board did not make a determination on the merits of the alleged violation during the meeting.
