A Jim Thorpe developer’s request for short-term rentals on his Sierra Vista Estates property in Mahoning Township has been turned down.

After reconvening from Jan. 30, the township’s zoning hearing board on Thursday denied the plan by Jake Arner, president of Awesome View Properties Inc.

Before the vote, attorney Robert Frycklund, who served as substitute solicitor for the Mahoning Township Zoning Hearing Board, said Arner had withdrawn his application for camping and glamping.

Frycklund said the two matters that were before the zoning hearing board were parking and short-term rentals.

The zoning hearing board denied the request for commercial parking using True Grid pervious stone parking on existing lots, as well as the request for short-term rentals.

After the meeting, Arner said, “I’m disappointed that we couldn’t solve the traffic and parking problems that exist in Jim Thorpe and impacts the residents of Carbon County.”

Zoning hearing board member Sandy Palinchak said the board denied the requests because, “It’s an R-3 district, which does not allow commercial parking or short-term rentals.”

Prior testimony

The zoning board heard three hours of testimony on Jan. 30.

Sierra Vista Estates has 104 units on 200 acres of property on Flagstaff Road next to the Flagstaff ballroom and has been approved as a residential development in the township.

Attorney Blake Marles represented Arner. Attorney Tom Nanovic, township solicitor, represented the township.

Arner had testified that the proposed commercial parking along five lots that border the Flagstaff property would create about 500 parking spots. If a proposed gondola were to be approved, there would be additional parking.

Arner said he really hoped the gondola would move forward, as that’s been his goal for over 30 years.

He said at that time he has 25 parties that have expressed interest in buying lots, and love the idea of short-term rentals.

Arner said he has had a discussion with the Philadelphia Orchestra, which he said would be the other proposed use.

Later during his testimony, Arner said he would rather just focus on tourist cabins and short-term rentals, and would be fine with withdrawing his application for camping.

Arner was asking for non-conforming use to allow short-term rentals and commercial Parking.

He was also requesting special exception use for three parcels beginning at 200 Flagstaff Road, Mahoning Township, and ending at the Mahoning Township and Jim Thorpe Borough municipal boundary lines.

Arner was challenging the validity of the township’s zoning ordinance with respect to a proposed short-term rental use.

The property was acquired on June 16, 2006, and abuts Flagstaff Road on the South West Side, Route 209 on the north and east side. Private property owners on the South East Side of the property are far removed from the property geographically.

The property has been conditionally approved for residential building lots by Mahoning Township supervisors, and received the recommendation of approval from the planning commission.

The vacant land has been conditionally approved as a residential development.

The abutting property to the Northwest is owned by Flagstaff at Jim Thorpe LLC and was zoning approved for a gondola, hotel and previously approved for a restaurant, catering hall and nightclub. It is currently being renovated.

The property to the east is owned by Perch restaurant.

Bailey Park Properties LLC operates as a multistory multi-unit apartment complex to the southeast of the property.

Sierra Vista Estates has received conditional approval to connect the Mahoning Municipal Authority’s sewer system.

Arner has also planned a residential development in Jim Thorpe. Canyon Rim Estates, Arner’s residential development in Jim Thorpe, has 270 units and was approved for short-term rentals, a winery, a tram and a camping facility.