- North Whitehall Township's Zoning Hearing Board will hold a special meeting to discuss the zoning appeal for cat nursery Foxy’s Cradle on Nov. 20
- The hearing initially was scheduled for Oct. 18, but was rescheduled after anticipated attendance exceeded the township meeting room capacity
- In other news, the plan for the controversial Strawberry Acres housing development will come before the township Board of Supervisors on Dec. 4
NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — A local cat nursery soon will have an opportunity to appeal for its continued existence.
North Whitehall Township Zoning Hearing Board will hold a special meeting to discuss the zoning appeal for cat nursery Foxy’s Cradle on Nov. 20.
Township Manager Randy Cope made the announcement at the township Board of Supervisors meeting Monday.
"Please mark your calendar to come to this public hearing. We need our community's support at this critical time for our future in rescue."A Facebook post from cat nursery Foxy's Cradle
The hearing initially was scheduled for Oct. 18, but was rescheduled after anticipated attendance exceeded the township meeting room capacity.
The rescheduled hearing will be in the Schnecksville Fire Department Enclosed Pavilion.
The nonprofit cat nursery posted about the rescheduled hearing on its Facebook page.
"We need your help and support at this zoning hearing to help educate North Whitehall Township's zoning board on our importance in rescue, what we do, and how we serve our community (and beyond)," the post read.
"Please mark your calendar to come to this public hearing. We need our community's support at this critical time for our future in rescue."
Other business
The applicant, Cheryl Reinert, previously declined to comment to the media about the upcoming meeting, citing legal advice she said she received on the matter.
The zoning hearing board is a quasi-judicial body that makes decisions independently from the township. Its hearings function like a court, with opening statements, sworn witnesses called to testify and cross-examinations.
Reinert is seeking a special exception to maintain the use. The kennel use is prohibited in the residential zoning district in part because more than one principal use is not permitted on a single land parcel, according to the township's land use laws.
75% of the kittens housed by Foxy's Cradle are brought to them because they are found orphaned, and then are hand-raised. It also offers adoption services, but not veterinary care for cat medical concerns.Foxy's Cradle website, www.foxyscradle.com
Neonatal kittens are among the most-euthanized group of animals that come into animal shelters, according to the organization's website. They require round-the-clock care, which is difficult for many shelters to provide.
The website says 75% of the kittens they house are brought to them because they are found orphaned, and then are hand-raised. It also offers adoption services, but not veterinary care for cat medical concerns.
Other business
Supervisors in December or January will vote on whether to adopt a “nuisance ordinance,” or a law that will let township staff act when there are nuisances such as weeds, trash, animal waste and more.
“It’ll give staff the ability to speed up the process."North Whitehall Township Manager Randy Cope
Cope said the township’s current process for dealing with such nuisances is slow because staff have to go through several other entities.
“It’ll give staff the ability to speed up the process,” Cope said.
The proposed ordinance is not finalized, but will be advertised on the township website when it's complete.
The plan for the controversial Strawberry Acres housing development will come before the board on Dec. 4 after the township Planning Commission gave it an unfavorable recommendation.
Supervisors still could choose to approve the plan despite the recommendation, since the planning commission doesn't have the power to approve or deny plans.
Township Finance Director Seth O’Neill said there were several minor adjustments to the township’s proposed 2024 budget, though it's still a balanced budget with no tax increase.
Supervisors will vote on whether to adopt it at their Dec. 4 meeting.
Staff writer Jay Bradley contributed to this report.
