Tamaqua's zoning board approved two requests for variances at their meeting on Monday night.

The requests were submitted by Robert Ciccone, for the Tamarack Planned Residential Development in Owl Creek. Ciccone had previously obtained variances in 2005 for a development consisting of 135 town homes; however, Kevin Draper, the project engineer, explained that the economy and new regulations from DEP had forced the developer to change the scope of the project.Draper said that the new plans for the 33.9 acres on the south side of Owl Creek Road consist of 27 new single family homes, located along a cul de sac. The developer is also currently investigating plans for six other lots located on the north side of the road, but those plans are not included in the variances that were requested at the meeting.Joel Weiner, attorney for the developer, said that the current proposal will mean a much "less intensive use of the land" than the previous one. He also stated that the original project was no longer feasible due to a change in regulations by DEP, regarding the high quality stream in the area, which prohibit 150 feet on either side of the stream from being developed.The other request for a variance related to the requirement that there be two routes of ingress and egress from the development. The developer requested that he be allowed to connect to the existing access road to the Owl Creek reservoir, however, the road would only be used by emergency vehicles. The request raised some concerns for one board member and one resident of the area. "I have concerns that people will use that emergency access road," said Karl Smulligan. "People, water, and electricity take the path of least resistance." Pete Trudich, who lives near that proposed development, said that there is already traffic on that road, "spinning their wheels." Trudich suggested that the developer use his own land for the access road, not the borough's.Although Draper and Ciccone said that there will be provisions to keep the road closed when not in use, Trudich said, "it will come to being emergencies all the time."The zoning hearing board granted the requests for variances, conditional upon the borough's approval of the method that is used to keep the road closed to thru traffic.Following the zoning hearing board meeting, the planning commission also met and granted the following waivers to the subdivision and land development ordinance (SALDO):-allow the maximum length of a cul de sac to exceed 800 feet. The current proposal for the cul de sac is 1,153 feet.-allow 22 lots on the cul de sac. The current maximum is 10.-approved a waiver for the depth of the lots. They shall not be more than two and one-half times their widths, not less than one times their width.