A Palmerton doctor has been granted permission to construct a garage onto his property.

After a brief recess, the borough's Zoning Hearing Board on a 2-1 vote Wednesday agreed to grant Dr. Louis Sportelli a variance related to side-yard setbacks that will enable him to construct a garage to the west side of a dwelling unit at 776 Columbia Avenue.The borough's zoning ordinance requires a 10-foot side-yard setback. However, Sportelli's proposal was to construct the addition two-feet from the side yard.Zoning board member Michael Bloomfield and board Chairman Gary Curran voted to grant the variance. Zoning board member Andrew Jordan was opposed.After the meeting, Jordan said he voted against the variance because the request doesn't comply with the borough's zoning ordinance."Our zoning has it 10-feet for people, and everyone has to follow it," Jordan said. "He has plenty of room with what he has, front and back."Prior to its vote, zoning board solicitor Jenny Cheng read a letter the borough received in support of Sportelli's request.Sportelli, who was not in attendance, was represented by contractor Thomas Schmidt.