Lehighton hopes to have its entire zoning ordinance updated within the next few months.

Borough council recently revisited discussion on the zoning ordinance update as it pertains to maximum number of animals at a residence.

Councilman Donnie Rehrig said he believes the number of animals is important.

Borough solicitor Jim Nanovic recommended to council it adopt the entire zoning ordinance first.

Borough Manager Nicole Beckett agreed that would be a wise decision.

“It may behoove us to wait,” Beckett said. “I think there’s a lot of things that need to be discussed.”

Nanovic said the plan is to advertise for public hearing at council’s meeting in April, and adopt it at its May meeting.

After the meeting, Beckett said the borough had received multi-municipal funding from the state Department of Community and Economic Development to update its zoning and Subdivision and Land Development ordinances.

The grant runs out on May 22.

“The maximum number of animals, as of now, will not be addressed through zoning,” Beckett said. “Complaints can be addressed by Code Enforcement through property maintenance codes and nuisance ordinances.”

In November, council agreed to proceed with an amendment to the zoning ordinance that would control the number of animals a property owner can have in their home.

Nanovic provided two different options: a nuisance ordinance, to include the numbers of animals allowed on a property; or zoning ordinance amendment defining a kennel as a building/structure which houses more than a certain amount of animals.

This section would be added to the amendment, Beckett said.

In October, Robert Schoenberger, who resides at 235 N. Fourth St., told council that he’s lived at his home for 40 years.

Schoenberger said his neighbor has 17 cats and two dogs in the half double, adding he lives in the other half.

He said there’s a smell of kitty litter, and asked whether the borough has an ordinance to control how many animals one can have in a home at one time.

Additionally, Schoenberger said the neighbor with all the animals is also making their yard a junkyard.

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky suggested at that time that council research the situation and revisit the matter.