Lehighton will not advertise its zoning ordinance and map.

On a 4-2 margin, borough council last week opted against the measure.

Councilmen Donnie Rehrig and Darryl Arner were in favor. Councilman Joe Flickinger was absent.

Council’s action came after it again heard from Robert March, president of Standard Metal Industries, 500 S. Ninth St.

March said he believes his business, along with a neighboring business, MB Bridge Real Estate, would be affected.

“I would ask to not change our zoning,” March said.

Before the vote, Councilman Ryan Saunders asked whether it would change things for the business owners.

Township solicitor Jim Nanovic said, “They still do have a lot of latitude with what they can do with their properties.”

March said he understood, but that the “older regulations would be a little better.”

March added that one of his businesses may not be able to continue, and that he may have to re-purpose it so that it would fit into the new ordinance.

Borough engineer Bruce Steigerwalt said that the zoning map was developed based on the most recent FEMA mapping from June.

He added that some of March’s building is the flood plain.

March said he understood, but that it’s only a “tiny little section” of his property.

Saunders agreed with March and said, “That does sound ridiculous.”

Steigerwalt said there was a detailed study done, and that a portion of the building “is still in the flood way.”

Councilman Donnie Rehrig said he was in favor of advertising the zoning ordinance and map because “we spend a whole lot of money on this.”

Steigerwalt added that it was disappointing because the borough had previously applied for and received a grant.

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.

Council’s decision last week means at this point, the old version of the ordinance/map is still in effect.

That means the two businesses would be in the same position as before with no change.