Western Salisbury Township Volunteer Fire Company has received approval to erect a temporary structure to house fire engines until its new facility is completed.

The Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board voted unanimously 5-0 Feb. 8 to approve the Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company request for special exception approval to erect a 50-foot by 40-foot temporary structure on its property, 3425 Eisenhower Ave., for up to 548 days, when 30 days maximum is permitted, to store fire trucks and equipment.

After discussion, a 5-0 vote approved an amendment to extend the time frame from 365 days to 548 days.

The motion to approve the special exception approval was made by Zoner Ron Evans and seconded by Zoning Hearing Board Vice Chair Attorney Ian Baxter.

The property is in the R3 Medium Low Density Residential zoning district. No objectors to the appeal attended the hearing.

Western Salisbury plans to build a new Swain Station fire house on the site of the fire house, which will be demolished. Western’s aerial and pumper fire engines will be temporarily housed in the Eisenhower structure.

The structure will be a one-story, approximately 14-foot-high, pitched-roof, aluminum pole building with two side-by-side garage doors.

Erecting the structure, which could take place in April, will be coordinated with demolition of Swain Station, 950 S. Ott St.

“When they start the demolition, I want the first swing,” Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company Safety Officer, Emergency Medical Technician, Board Member, Trustee and Life Member Jerry Royer told a reporter for The Press before the zoning hearing. Royer, a 45-year Western volunteer, has frequently represented the fire company project at township meetings.

“It’s going to be a pole building with two doors on the front,” Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company Fire Chief, Emergency Medical Responder and Board Member Joshua Wells said at the start of the 20-minute portion of the hearing for the fire company appeal.

“We’re hoping to start in April and it’s nine months,” Wells said. After demolition, a May start is eyed for Swain construction.

“We’re in the process of building the new station and we have to find space to store the trucks,” Royer said.

“We’re looking to build a pole structure to house two trucks. We’re building on the parking lot next to the existing building. We’re also putting trucks in the existing building.

“That will be our primary response facility,” Royer said of the Eisenhower Fire Station, where Western holds meetings and training sessions.

“We have storage and keep our antique truck there. We have training and Monday meetings,” Royer said. The antique fire engine is to be relocated.

Access and egress to the new structure will be off Eisenhower.

In other business Feb. 8, zoners voted 4-1 to approve the request of Octavio Pena for variance relief to construct a two-story addition to the rear of his residence, 832 E. Wayne Ave. (75 feet setback from top edge of waterway required; 65 feet proposed).

The property is in the R4 Medium Density Residential zoning district. No objectors to the appeal attended the hearing.

Voting to grant the variance were Zoners Nicole Ortiz, Joseph Kovach, Baxter and Evans.

Voting against granting the variance was Zoning Hearing Board Chair Attorney Kent Herman.

The motion to bring the variance to a vote was made by Baxter and seconded by Evans.

“I’m asking to add two bedrooms to take care of my in-laws. I have a two-bedroom,” Pena said, who has lived in the house for eight years.

The twin house is in the vicinity of Trout Creek.

“The building is outside of the FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] flood zone,” Pena said.

“What should be done pertaining to the construction phase to protect the creek?” Zoning Hearing Board Chair Attorney Kent Herman asked.

“They are exempt from a grading permit because the addition is less than 500-square-feet,” Salisbury Township Planning and Zoning Office Kerry H. Rabold said, adding, “They are outside of the FEMA flood zone.”

Cost of a grading permit, which could include inspections by the township consulting engineering firm, could range from $500 to $5,000, it was stated.

Zoners voted 3-2 to not require a grading permit.

Voting against the requirement were Baxter, Evans and Ortiz.

Voting to require the permit were Herman and Kovach.

Baxter moved, seconded by Evans, to make the motion.

The Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board March 8 meeting is canceled.

The Salisbury Township municipal government meeting schedule includes: planning commission, 7 p.m. Feb. 22 in the meeting room of the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave. and board of commissioners, 7 p.m. Feb. 23 in the municipal building.

The township municipal building is closed to the public Feb. 28 and March 1 for work on the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. For assistance, call the office at 610-797-4000.