Zoning Hearing Board

Zoning Hearing Board Meetings

  • 7:00 p.m.
  • On as needed basis
  • Council Meeting Room

Members

  • Jay Harp, Chairman (term ends 1/1/25)
  • Douglas Lenhart, Vice Chairman (term ends 1/1/26)
  • Todd Thorne  (term ends 1/1/24)
  • Richard Bouher - Alternate (term ends (1/1/24)
  • Gregory Philips, Solicitor

Responsibilities

The Zoning Hearing Board is an independent branch of the local government that consists of residents of the Borough of Pottstown, appointed to the Board by Borough Council, one of whom serves as its chairperson. An attorney, who is called the Solicitor, represents the Board.

The members of the Zoning Hearing Board are not permitted to communicate, either directly or indirectly, with the applicant, or his or her representatives, or any other person interested in the application, except at the time of the hearing. Similarly, the Zoning Hearing Board is not permitted to review any written material other than that submitted with the application at the time of the hearing.

Although the Zoning Hearing Board is not required to follow the formal rules of evidence at its hearings, it conducts a formal hearing, similar to a court proceeding. A court stenographer is present to make a record of the hearing.

The applicant and any other person who has been recognized by the Zoning Hearing Board as a party to the proceedings have the right to be represented by legal counsel at the hearing. Neither the Zoning Hearing Board nor its Solicitor may provide legal advice to participants at the hearing. Likewise, neither the Zoning Hearing Board nor its Solicitor will attempt to represent or assist a party in the presentation of the case.

It is the burden of the applicant to prove his or her case and to submit evidence that supports the application. It is not the responsibility of the Zoning Hearing Board to gather evidence or information for the applicant. The Board, as a quasi-judicial body, may only hear and receive evidence that is given under oath and that is subject to cross-examination, or other evidence submitted at the time of the hearing that it deems credible.

The Zoning Hearing Board does not write the Borough Ordinances, nor does it have the power or jurisdiction to address all issues that may be raised at a zoning hearing. The Zoning Hearing Board does not have any enforcement powers. Rather, it can be considered to be the judicial branch of the local government for zoning matters that is separate and distinct from the Borough administration.