At a recent public hearing by Albany Township supervisors, the newly proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance were discussed.

These amendments were originally proposed in 2011 and have since been revised and reviewed several times.

Township Engineer Joe Body reviewed the changes and explained what these revisions mean to the township.

Several new definitions were added and amended.

There will be two new zoning districts: TVH (Trexler Village Historic District) and REC (Recreation District).

The TVH District will contain the Village of Trexler.

This district is “to preserve the existing cultural and historic area surrounding the Village of Trexler, and to provide limited further residential development and “home town” small commercial enterprises.”

The REC District is adjacent to the TVH district and encompasses the area from Kistler Valley Road to Trexler.

This includes the Kempton Community Center and the WK&S Railroad Station.

The REC District is “to continue and promote the recreational and community event use of the area surrounding and anchored by the Kempton Community Center.”

The ordinance is further amended to provide guidelines for properties within each district.

Development on steep slopes and landform elevation zones is addressed in the new ordinance.

Landform elevation zones are defined and guidelines for their development are set in the ordinance.

Section 402, relating to additional requirements for individual uses, has several changes proposed.

After Body’s presentation, members of the audience were allowed to comment.

Tom Kerr was first to speak.

He complimented the efforts of the board in creating these changes.

However, he thought it difficult to ascertain what changes were proposed between the new and old.

His other concern was this ordinance takes away the decision making process of the homeowner.

Hugh Brown suggested there should be a written statement to outline the purpose of the changes.

His other concern was the effect this would have on property values.

Other concerns voiced by residents concerned the landforms section of the ordinance and mushroom houses.

The landforms section should only apply to the northern and western sections of the township.

The proposed changes are available on the township’s website as well as the current zoning ordinance.

Supervisors will next meet Nov. 7 and will allow a 30-minute question-and-answer period.