Treichler Commons Businesses Allowed to Stay

After more than two years of hearings, the owner of Treichler Commons will be allowed to keep several businesses on the property, as long as he cleans up the property and abides by other conditions mandated by the North Whitehall Township Zoning Hearing Board.

On Tuesday, the board granted Terry Vandling Jr., the owner of Treicher Commons LLC., 5481 Mauser St., a change in the special exception to a pre-existing non-conforming use, according to the board Solicitor C. Steven Miller.

The building, which originally made pallets in the 1950s, is in a district zoned village residential. The building currently houses several businesses, including contractors, a hydraulic hose company and a storage company, Miller said.

Zoning Officer Jeff Bartlett, who is also the township manager, said he did not agree with the board's decision.

"I don't feel they met the criteria," Bartlett said.

He said almost all the businesses are non-conforming uses which the township has had to shut down over the years because they lacked permits.

Bartlett said the property has "high weeds, huge amounts of junk. They've been trying to clean it up and they've made great improvements. It's not what I'd call the most desirable property in the area."