The former Aquashicola Post Office - an eyesore for over a decade - will eventually be demolished.

That's after the Lower Towamensing Township zoning hearing board on Thursday agreed to grant Lee Costenbader, the owner of the former post office structure at 4015 Fireline Road, a pair of variances.After about a 20-minute recess, zoners unanimously agreed to grant Costenbader a variance to the lot size requirements in a C-1 (Mixed Commercial Residential) zoning district to allow him to put an accessory storage building on the lot, as well as a variance to construct a storage building not to exceed 28-feet, 6-inches by 50-feet, 6-inches.However, as part of their approval, zoners granted three conditions: Costenbader must remove the old building; there shall be no further building on the lot without permission from the township; and Costenbader must comply with all setback requirements in the township's zoning ordinance.Costenbader said he plans to take down the current building and replace it with a garage that would be used for storage of his tools and antiques.Board solicitor Holly Heintzelman asked Costenbader if he knew an estimated square footage of the property, to which Costenbader said he did not."I'm trying to make sure you get from the board a decision one way or the other so that you get all you need (to move ahead with his plan)," Heintzelman said.There were no objections from the handful of residents who attended the meeting.Marlene Bollinger, who referred to the current structure as an "eyesore", said she was in favor of Costenbader's plan."I think what he wants to do is better than what's there," Bollinger said.Resident Todd Shupp said he, too, had no problem with Costenbader's plan.Millport, the town's original name, got its first post office in 1855. The Aquashicola post office was established May 10, 1962.A fire in March of 2002 caused extensive damage to the building which used to house the community's post office.Costenbader bought the property from former owner Duane Itterly in May of 2005.A new post office was opened at Little Gap and Mill Road in November of 1994.Also on Thursday, zoners unanimously agreed to grant Matthew Steinmetz a continuance in his quest to obtain a special exception to modify his home occupation to conduct repairs out of a garage, and to use it for storage related to the activity.The property, at 425 Hahn's Dairy Road, is located in an R-4 (Medium Density Residential) zoning district. A special exception is required to conduct a home occupation out of an accessory structure.Heintzelman told Steinmetz he would need to ask zoners for a continuance because he did not have the green cards with the list of property owners who live within 200-feet of his property line; therefore, the board had no way of knowing the property owners were notified of the hearing.Steinmetz was granted a continuance for his request to go before the zoners at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8.