A Jim Thorpe councilwoman is advocating for the elimination of an entire section of the borough’s proposed new zoning ordinance.

During a discussion on the document, Jessica Crowley said the narrative concerning “functional families” and who is permitted to live together “deeply upset her.”

Borough officials have said the proposed ordinance is not an official document as of yet, meaning it’s not available to the public, but Crowley referenced wording within it during Thursday night’s council workshop.

“The idea of not allowing several roommates to live together is scary to someone like me who would never let a man live in my house and needs roommates and friends,” Crowley said. “I don’t know why it says unrelated roommates are detrimental to a community. I want that taken out completely.”

The borough was awarded funding several years ago, by partnering with Summit Hill, for updating its zoning ordinance and subdivision and land development ordinance. The Municipal Assistance Program grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development was in the amount of $30,070. Natural Lands Trust, through Audubon Pennsylvania, awarded $15,000. Jim Thorpe and Summit Hill boroughs each contributed $7,535. The total project budget is $60,140 for updating four ordinances.

Carson Helfrige, of Community Planning Management, has been working as a consultant with Jim Thorpe on the ordinances.

Crowley also questioned Thursday night why exceptions were made for certain unrelated groups and an example of a religious order, she added, is referenced in the draft.

“This sounds like you can come set up cults in our community and I don’t like it,” she said.

In any zoning ordinance, all possible uses have to be accounted for somewhere in the municipality and Councilman Mike Yeastedt said the intent of the wording is to regulate where such group homes can be located.

“If people live in residential communities, they don’t expect someone to move in next to them to start a group home,” Yeastedt said.

Crowley, however, said the regulations are an overreach.

“Stay out of my life,” she said. “Don’t worry about who lives in my house. Who are you to tell me what kind of roommates I can have and if I have to be sleeping with them for them to be part of my family unit.”

Borough Manager Maureen Sterner said Thursday council would continue its review of the ordinance and Crowley’s comments and questions would be sent to the rest of the governing body.