After months of heated debated and red tape, Rentschler LLP has been granted its zoning variance for a parking lot next to the dealership.

Fred Rentschler purchased the property at 216 Center St. in Slatington on March 18, 2015. The lot is located in a town residential zoning area.A variance requesting zoning relief was requested by Rentschler to turn the acquired property into parking for the dealership, which is not one of the approved uses.On Wednesday night the Slatington Zoning Board, consisting of Chairman Lee Andreas, Jaime Sillett and Jerry Healey, listened to three hours of case presentation and residents’ comments before coming to a decision.Rentschler was granted the variance to construct the lot with the condition that the Center Street entrance be designated for emergency vehicles and snowplow use only.The needThe next step is to submit a plan to the Lehigh County Planning Commission before further work can be done on the property.“The dealership started in 1973 and has expanded quite a bit from the closing of other dealerships,” Rentschler said. “Dealerships are under the gun to attain the most inventory from their manufacturers.”Rentschler said that demand for the extra inventory is why the dealership needs another lot.Formerly structures dating back to the 1800s were located at 216 Center St. Rentschler said the property contained an old farm house, smoke house, and outhouse that could not be restored.“The house needed such work and we were concerned it would be an endless pit, so we demolished all the buildings.”Both Rentschler and his attorney William Fries told the board that a parking lot would be the least “intrusive” use compared to other approved uses.“A parking lot would only be used for the business. We do a great job of blocking off people who don’t belong there. It would be closed off after closing hours,” Rentschler said. “At present time we don’t have the extra room at the Chrysler dealership that we need.“Forty-two years ago we had 20 different competitors, now there are only two. People who bought cars at dealerships that have gone out of business bring them here for service,” Rentschler said.“If we were denied the variance we would have to consider moving to another location, like in Lehighton next to Lowe’s and Walmart. I don’t think the community would want us to go because of the tax money to the borough,” he said. “We’ve always been good neighbors.”BackgroundAn original variance request had been sent to zoning officer Duane Dellecker in April 2015. The variance had been denied due to the plan’s unapproved use for residential zoning. According to the ordinance’s approved uses include housing, business offices, libraries or restaurants.Rentschler owns two Slatington dealerships, handling Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep in one area and Chevrolet in the other. Rentschler appealed the decision and a zoning hearing was set for April 30.The board denied the variance in July 2015. Rentschler attempted to withdraw his appeal in order to start from square one after losing the hearing and retaining counsel.While waiting for the next zoning hearing, Rentschler demolished the three buildings on the property. Following the demolition workers grated and added shale to the holes left behind by the structures in September 2015.A day after the shale was laid, in September, a torrential downpour occurred leading to a muddy flood running south of the property into neighboring yards.“It was bad timing. A mix of newly disturbed ground and heavy rain,” said Mark Bradbury, chief planner of Martin Bradbury and Griffith, a company used for land surveys, planning and development.“The ground was disturbed. We rectified the issue immediately and meet with a contractor to discuss proper maintenance in the future.”Bradbury said the proposed plan includes strong drainage provisions.“Currently there is nothing. But we will add an underground retention area with very large pipe, catch basins and a curb line. It’ll be better than before. Currently water just runs through the residential area.”NeighborsResidents Janice and Bryan Perry brought photographs of the water damage from neighboring properties.“The day after the storm, residents showed up with photos to the borough meeting. I was told by the board to look into. I contacted the conservation district and Mr. Rentschler. He took care of it quickly but it was more or less after the fact,” Dellecker said.Dellecker said a permit was never issued for the work. “It wasn’t a borough permit issue so much as a conservation district permit,” Dellecker told the board.“This has been awful for me. I’ve had to put out thousands. A lot of development has already taken place, I feel like I’m losing my mind,” said Janice Perry during the zoning hearing. “We don’t want a commercial property next to us. I’m under a lot of damage here. We’re still getting water into the garage.”Bryan Perry added, “My lot never flooded before shale. The ground used to absorb every drop. I have saturation lines on the fence where water is leaking through the silt fence. It’s the shale causing the flooding.”“It was in disarray when the storm came. But Mr. Rentschler fixed it as promptly as possible. If there is an issue we will look at doing something to correct it. I can guarantee you that,” Bradbury said.The discussion became heated as Perry unloaded a long list of grievances, including everything from the sound system to the dealership lights.“I’ve got broad daylight in my yard until almost 2 a.m. Will the PA system be turned up so people in the new lot can hear it? We want business to expand but it’s intrusive to the neighborhood. I bought a house in a residential area. Now if I sell it, I have to sell it in commercial.”“We had another neighbor call about the PA. I had my son look into it and it’s taken care of,” Rentschler said. “We have always been good neighbors. We are always trying to improve.”Screening“Another threat,” Janice Perry said. “It’s diminishing property value.”“My client has a right to use the property. It’s a very minimal use. I’m a homeowner and I don’t want to live next to a commercial property, I understand that. But Mr. Rentschler has worked to make this as intrusive as possible,” Fries said.Slatington zoning solicitor Lisa Pereira asked Fries if this case was adjudicated (a type of double jeopardy) since a previous hearing had already been held and a decision was made.“No, this is a completely different plan,” he said.Bradbury designed the lot in August and the original hearing was held in June.The board granted the variance, with a condition that a gate or blockage to the Center Street entrance would be installed.“We can put a chain up with a stop sign on it like we do on the other properties.”The plan proposes the use of LED lights in the new lot which will keep the brightness to a minimum along with arborvitae screening.