Uniontown approves zoning ordinance amendment
Uniontown City Council on Wednesday approved a zoning ordinance amendment that would allow Healthy Start to finally move into a building the agency has owned since 2004.
Council voted unanimously at a special meeting in favor of the amendment that adds social service agencies to the zoning ordinance. The planning commission recommended approval at a hearing in April.
The amendment allows social service agencies to operate in certain zoning districts and classifies agencies into two categories: Type A, which don’t see clients in their offices, and Type B, which see clients in their offices.
The amendment makes Type A agencies such as Healthy Start permitted uses in local business districts and institutional districts, but requires a special exception in medium density residential districts.
Type B agencies are permitted in the business-professional, local business, central business and institutional districts with a special exception, according to the amendment.
Healthy Start bought a home at 54 Wilson Ave., which is in a medium density residential district, in 2004, but hasn’t been allowed to conduct business there because the ordinance had no provisions for social service agencies. The agency applied to the commission for a variance after the purchase, but was denied.
The agency is currently located on Pittsburgh Road in North Union Township.
In unrelated business, council bought a 1992 Grumman pumper truck for the fire department for $27,000 from the New Haven Hose Co. of Connellsville.
Fire Chief Charles Coldren said the truck has a custom chassis, stainless steel body and water tank, a certified water pump, current inspection and comes with about $40,000 worth of equipment including 1,200 feet of five-inch fire hose.