LOCK HAVEN — The City of Lock Haven is looking to improve sections of its Zoning ordinance to better benefit current and future residents.

On Monday night, council unanimously approved hiring Michael Baker to update its Zoning Ordinance and its Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO).

City Planner Abbey Roberts said a Request for Proposals was put out in January after discussions were had between the planning department and Director of Permits and Licensing Cyndi Walker.

Roberts said two proposals were received and reviewed by the city’s planning commission, with its members recommending the city hire Baker at a fee of $129,710. The fee will be paid for through Strategic Management Planning Grant funds ($65,000); 2023 CDBG funds ($25,000) and the city’s local share ($40,000).

“Michael Baker has board, zoning and planning experience and is proposing a lot of community engagement with the work. I think that’s important. Especially with our zoning ordinance being so outdated,” Roberts said. “We really want the community’s input on what that should look like in the future.”

Roberts said Baker proposed a 14-month timeline for the project.

It was noted by Roberts that the zoning ordinance hasn’t been reviewed since 2008 and SALDO since 2005.

Council Member Jeff Brinker asked what the objective for the project would be and if it could be done in-house without the additional cost.

“The whole directive is to rewrite our Zoning Ordinance and our Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. Currently we’ve had a couple issues with uses being missed in our current ordinance,” Roberts said.

City Manager Gregory Wilson noted issues in the current ordinance that a rewrite could address including allowing smaller homes to be constructed on vacant lots where a large building may have originally been.

“Today as more and more people downsize you see houses becoming smaller. We do have space for people to fill with those. But unfortunately our zoning restricts that,” he said.

Walker backed up Wilson’s example, emphasizing that “tiny homes” aren’t currently allowed to be built within the city. Neither are in-law suites on lots that don’t already have a secondary building.

“Because at the time when we put it in place in 2008 these options didn’t exist. For example, tiny homes. They’re totally prohibited within the city because we make no allowance for that type of structure,” she said.

Walker noted these options may not necessarily be put in an updated ordinance, but the study would provide input from Baker as well as the community.

“That’s one of the reasons we want Mr. Baker’s approach to this because there is a lot of community engagement, a lot of options for people to attend public meetings at different locations in the city to give their input and let us know what is important to them and the things that they would like to see addressed,” she said.

Walker added having a consultant like Baker would be important to ensure a thorough review of the project.

She noted she was the only current city staff member working during the review in 2005 and 2008.

“It’s time consuming, especially with small departments. Abbey is a department of one. I’m a department of one,” she said.

Walker noted Baker has the experience of working with a wide-range of municipalities — bringing with him knowledge to benefit the project.

She further emphasized that the two thirds of the cost will be paid for through grant funding.

“It’s well worth the money the city is putting in for the local match in my opinion,” she said. “I think there will be a lot of things addressed there that would facilitate positive change.”

Council Member Barabara Masorti noted the study will lead to a rewrite of the ordinances ultimately.

“We’re not just going to have a study done. It’s going to be done,” she said.

Council Member Rick Conklin added just the examples provided, if implemented, would be a benefit even to himself.

“I’m one of those people that, if my house burned down, I’d be the first tiny house build in Lock Haven,” he said.

Walker added that not only would the city staff be involved in the process, so would both the city and county planning commissions.

“And again, not to stress too much, but the community engagement is super critical and that gives the people in the city the opportunity to say ‘hey, I would like to do this but can’t because… will you look at this?'” she said.

Council unanimously approved hiring Baker at the proposed cost for the 14-month study and rewrite to be conducted.