The Palmerton Hungarian Club has received permission to construct an addition to the front of their building.

The borough's zoning hearing board on a 2-0 vote, with one abstention, granted variances to the club on Thursday. Zoner Michael Bloomfield abstained because he is a member of the Club.The variances related to the front-yard and side-yard setbacks, as well as building coverage regulations, that will allow the club to construct an addition to the front of their building, located at 317 Lehigh Avenue, to be used for storage.The borough zoning ordinance requires a front-yard setback of 37.5-feet from the curb, and a side-yard setback of 8-feet. The club proposed to construct the addition 13-feet from the curb and 0-feet from the side yard.Also, the zoning ordinance limits the amount of building coverage of a lot in the R-3 (Residential/ Light Commercial) zoning district to 60-percent.In his rejection letter, dated April 5, borough zoning officer Duane Dellecker said the sketch plans submitted "did not indicate the existing lot size to allow this office the opportunity to adequately evaluate compliance with this requirement."Also on Thursday, zoners granted Lisa Nemeth a variance to allow a moderate-scale home occupation at her residence, located at 821 First StreetNemeth wants to establish a Tax Preparation Office as a home occupation, with up to four clients per hour and up to two additional employees during tax season at her property, located in an R-2 (Medium Density Residential) district.In his rejection letter, dated April 19, Dellecker said a section of the borough's zoning ordinance lists small scale Professional Offices and Services as a Special Exception use, which requires action of the zoners and moderate scale office or service as not permitted.In addition, Dellecker said in his letter a section of the zoning ordinance allows up to two persons working on-site, and no nonresidential involved in the operation as a small scale home occupation, while another section of the zoning ordinance allows up to a total of three people involved in the operation as a moderate scale home occupation.Also, Dellecker said in his letter a section of the zoning ordinance allows up to two visiting customers, or clients, per hour for small scale home occupations, while another section of the zoning ordinance allows up to six customers, or clients, per hour.But, Nemeth's letter of intent indicated up to three persons involved in the operation, and up to four customers or clients per hour, Dellecker said in his letter.