A Jim Thorpe Borough zoning ordinance amendment largely aimed at easing off-street parking requirements for commercial businesses on Broadway is scheduled for a vote Thursday night.

Currently, businesses in that zoning district have to provide for a certain number of off-street parking spaces depending on the size of their building.In downtown Jim Thorpe, according to officials, the chances of complying with that are slim to none.Prospective business owners then have to go through a zoning hearing, prove their hardship and get a variance from the requirements.“It’s basically a formality that they get a variance because there is no opportunity to provide for off-street parking downtown,” Councilman John McGuire said at a meeting earlier this year.“So then what’s happening is the applicants are paying for a zoning hearing, and this is happening each time a business wants to go in down there. We are spending a lot of time and money for both the borough and the applicant having to go through the variance.”According to Jim Thorpe’s current fee schedule, a zoning hearing on an application for a variance costs $600.The proposed zoning change would alleviate the off-street parking requirements for most businesses, but not those providing overnight accommodations.Borough Manager Maureen Sterner said those businesses have to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act parking requirements due to federal law.“We can’t do anything locally that trumps federal law,” she said.Bed-and-breakfast businesses on Broadway, for example, will still need to get a special exception to comply with the zoning ordinance, even after the change.Council admits the change can sound confusing and fully expects residents and business owners to come with questions Thursday night.Jim Thorpe meets at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Hall on East 10th Street.