Two parking lots in Lehighton are set to be paved this week.

Borough Manager Dane DeWire told borough council at last week’s meeting that the parking lot behind Jokers Are Wild Game Cafe and the borough parking lot on Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard are scheduled to be paved.

On a 4-3 measure, council agreed to allow the borough’s Public Works Department to provide paving labor in exchange for a sanitary sewer easement, pedestrian walking easement, and public parking during large events.

Council members Ryan Saunders, Autumn Abelovsky, Becky Worthy, and Steve Hawk were in favor. Council members John Kreitz, Dave Zimmerman and council President Grant Hunsicker were opposed.

Before the vote, Kreitz questioned if that was a violation of ethics.

But, borough solicitor Jim Nanovic said it was not, as the borough is getting a pedestrian easement and a sewer easement.

DeWire noted the borough hopes the pedestrian access through the neighboring lot “will incentivize foot traffic for our downtown businesses.”

Saunders said he believes it’s an enhancement the borough could use, not to mention collaborating with a business owner who shares the same passion,

“I believe the community would get behind it,” Saunders said.

Hawk said he believes it’s a great investment in the borough’s downtown, as it will benefit borough residents and visitors.

After the meeting, DeWire said the borough is providing the labor to pave the lot adjacent to its lot in return for public parking during large events, as well as permanent utility easement and access to the basement of the building on the property because it has an active sewer main running directly underneath it.

“Currently, the borough parking lot is unpaved, so it would be difficult to determine the number of parking spaces available,” he said. “However, once we complete paving and striping, 23 spots will be open to the public, two of which will be ADA accessible.”

DeWire noted that the adjacent property owner does have his parking lot striped, but a majority of the parking lot is in rough shape, making it difficult to determine the actual number of parking spaces.

“After paving and striping occurs in the lot adjacent to ours, their parking lot will have 28 spots, and two of those will be ADA accessible,” he said. “The borough will be working directly with Uncommon Grounds to make sure that their business is affected as little as possible with the paving work, as they station their shop in the parking lot.

“The owner of the adjacent property has agreed to open his parking lot to the public anytime that the borough has large events. However, his parking lot will always provide parking for his tenants and their business.”

Last month, it was announced that the borough was looking to raze a shed located between Jokers Are Wild Gaming Cafe and the borough parking lot on Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard.

The owner of the building is for the move, but DeWire said the building is not on borough property, and that if it is to be razed, the owner of the building would need to file for a demolition permit.

Senior housing parking lot

Also at last week’s meeting, council discussed a senior housing parking lot.

Council has no control over what the elderly apartments charge their tenants for parking.

However, it was noted the borough does bill the building $2,400 per year. It was then discussed whether the price could be raised from $5 to $15.

If that amount could be brought up to $7,200 per year, it would enable the borough to get closer to a break-even status on the rental.

DeWire said the borough will revisit the matter when it works on next year’s budget.