A local businessman’s aspiration to open a diner in West Penn Township wages on.

Walter Zlomsowitch, owner of K&K Oil in Lehighton, recently updated township supervisors about what has transpired since he last met with them Oct. 21.

Zlomsowitch said since then he has spent thousands of dollars, and he doesn’t feel as if he’s any closer to opening the diner at 749 Penn Drive he purchased in July.

However, Rodd White, of Lehigh Engineering, the township’s engineering firm, said he disagreed, and that he believes progress has in fact been made since last month.

“I personally think (things are) much closer,” White said. “You have a plan that’s been looked at; you have a completed application, which you didn’t have.”

Board Chairman Tony Prudenti asked White if he could pay personal attention to the matter for some affirmation by the township’s next meeting.

White said that he believes there are still some outstanding issues on the plan, but that once those are met, a permit could then be issued.

Zlomsowitch said last month that he had an occupancy permit for the former Maggie’s Kitchen, and since he wasn’t changing the use or structure of the building, his idea was to make the structure stronger and safer for his patrons.

However, he said at that time the township’s code enforcement officer stopped by one day and told him he needed to apply for a Uniform Construction Code permit, and then threatened him with a cease-and-desist order.

Zlomsowitch said he didn’t believe that was right, as he was only trying to add to the “integrity of the structure.” Further, he told the board he was having a problem with the officer and questioned whether it was political in nature.