A Palmerton businessman has been granted a variance for his land development plan.

By a unanimous measure, the zoning hearing board on Monday granted Joseph Bennett a variance related to the buffer area requirements, according to board solicitor Jenny Serfass.However, as part of their approval, the board attached the condition that the 5-foot buffer yard at 555 Delaware Ave. must be maintained as such, with nothing else going there, Serfass said.Serfass that as part of Bennett's testimony, he said that he applied for a variance for buffer area requirements so that he would not have to put planters in the 5-foot buffer yard, as it would be an inconvenience for plow trucks to plow around.Borough Manager Rodger Danielson, who represented the borough, agreed with Bennett and said he had no problem with him not putting anything in the buffer yard, Serfass said.The appeal was resumed from last month, when the board heard testimony from Bennett, as well as Danielson.At that time, it was agreed the hearing should be continued so that Bennett could provide more information to the board with regard to his land development plan, which was conditionally approved by borough council on Sept. 11.As approved, it called for the installation of a required buffer yard along the alley.According to a memo dated Oct. 8 from borough zoning officer Duane Dellecker, he did not issue a letter of denial on the issue because he had no objections to the plan as approved with the buffer design.