Council to hold second meeting for public input on Zoning, SALDO; Hearing set for Aug. 10

LOCK HAVEN -- Lock Haven City Council has directed staff to schedule another public hearing regarding its potential Zoning and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance updates following a lengthy meeting held Monday night prior to its regular meeting.

The hearing is slated for 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10, in council chambers.

Prior to council's decision, City Planner/Interim Manager Abbey Roberts noted the public is still encouraged to review both ordinances -- which were revamped throughout 2025 into 2026 -- and provide comment prior to potential adoption in late August/early September.

"If substantial changes are made between first reading and second reading, we will go through those processes of readvertising as necessary," she said. "It's not to hinder any comments we get, we will update with the changes and make the best ordinance we can."

Roberts emphasized that those who were unable to make Monday night's public hearing could still offer comment at the ordinances, which are available on the city's website and at City Hall.

Comments can be sent to Building and Codes Official Cyndi Walker at cwalker@lockhavenpa.gov.

Members of the public are also welcome to call Walker at 570-893-5623.

Prior to approval on first reading, Council member Jeff Brinker asked if another public meeting about the ordinances could be held.

"There was a lot of discussion and there was confusion with people who thought the meeting was supposed to be at seven and it was at six," he said. "I think we still have some questions and answers to go through. We haven't even gone through and talked about some of what we had here."

Mayor Joel Long agreed with Brinker.

"The people that were here tonight brought up some good topics and there's more things I'd like to ask staff," he said. "I think we could go ahead and pass it and have another hearing."

Long acknowledged staff's efforts to ask for input from the public but said the public hearing held on Monday night showed there were some questions and said he could see the confusion for some members of the public about when the meeting was held.

"I think everything we can do to encourage more input to make sure we come up with something that everyone here and the members of the public feel good about, we need to do," he said. "If they're big changes from what we're sitting at right now we can delay it. We don't have to go and do the second reading. We can wait and adjust things."

Walker noted if that is the case, they would need to re-advertise the proposed ordinance updates among other things.

"There's a specific procedure you have to go through," she said.

Council member Micah Clausen agreed another meeting should be held, suggesting it be on a separate night from council.

"We can do that so we're not up against it like we were tonight," Long said.

Roberts noted another meeting would not have to be constituted as a public hearing, meaning the guidelines to advertise would change, making it easier to find a better date.

"We'll put it in the paper again as we did with the last one," she said.

The hearing was also included on the prior council meeting's agenda and on the Monday night agenda and featured on the city's Facebook page.

Walker added that, if any changes were to be made, it would need to go through the city's solicitor, Justin Houser, prior to potential adoption.

"We will not be completely in charge of the timeframe we're going to have," she said.

Following discussion, council approved the zoning and SALDO ordinances on first reading.