After several attempts, the Carbon County Lion/Lioness Fair Association has finally received its request for a zoning variance which will allow the fair to develop property.

The Lower Towamensing Township Zoning Hearing Board on Tuesday unanimously agreed to grant a variance to divide three parcels which do not abut a street and do not have a minimum lot width abutting a street.

After the meeting, Robert Silliman, president of the Carbon County Fair Association, explained that the variance was necessary to permit the subdivision of property located at 2645 Little Gap Road, Palmerton.

“The variance excuses us from the 200 feet of road frontage required by zoning for each parcel, so now we need to go before the planning commission and hopefully we can get it through the planning commission,” Silliman said. “We’re positive that we’re moving forward, and once we get the property subdivided, we can start to move forward with development.”

The decision came after the zoners held a continued public hearing on the application of the Carbon County Lion/Lioness Fair Association seeking the variance.

After a roughly 40-minute recess, zoners agreed to grant the variance, but as part of their approval, said the variance is subject to the following conditions:

• There is to be no further subdivision of Lot 1, Lot 2 and Lot 3.

• They must comply with all state, federal and local ordinances, statutes and regulations relating to development of the property.

Before the vote, zoners heard the request for the variance from engineer Michael Muffley of Hanover Engineering Associates, and attorney Jason Rapa, who represented the Carbon County Lion/Lioness Fair Association.

It was stated Tuesday the EPA is willing to lift the Superfund designation on this section if it is subdivided.

After the meeting, James Ord, chairman of the zoning hearing board, said the presentation for the request this time didn’t resemble the initial presentation.

“After it was put this way, it seemed like the right thing to do,” Ord said.

In February 2020, the Carbon County Lion/Lioness Fair Association were denied its request for a zoning variance.

That came after they initially were denied in 2017 when the association wanted a variance from requiring 200 feet of road frontage on Little Gap Road for an access road. The association hoped to use an easement instead for the access.

Since then, the association purchased two residential properties on Little Gap Road.

Silliman said the two lots are separate, but on the same deed. One of the lots has 185 feet of road frontage, and the other lot has about 300 feet and a house.

The association submitted its request for a variance on the 200-foot road frontage requirement on the smaller lot.

Ord said at that time the variance was being denied because the fair association has a property that meets the 200-foot requirement with the other lot. He told Silliman to use that lot for the access road to the fair association’s 40-acre tract of land behind the residential properties. The association would be in compliance, and wouldn’t need a variance.

The zoning hearing board also previously denied the fair association’s other request to subdivide a lot designated as a Superfund site by the Environmental Protection Agency from a 372-acre portion, between the Appalachian Trail and the Aquashicola Creek. That area could be used for hunting.

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