Thursday, October 31, 2002
SHARON, Pa. -- The Salvation Army must seek a zoning variance or close the thrift store it opened in its Fisher Hill Street headquarters Sept. 3.
Mayor David O. Ryan said the city solicitor has determined that running a store in the single-family residential zone is not permitted under city zoning regulations.
The issue surfaced at a city council meeting one week ago when two members of council questioned the store's operation, noting the Salvation Army had promised it would never open a thrift store on Fisher Hill Street when it moved into the former Gamble Elementary School there in 1987.
Maj. Ted Slye, the officer-in-charge, wasn't around when that move was made and said he was unaware of any such promise. He also said he had checked out the legality of the thrift store operation with the city code office before opening the store and was told it would be permissible.
However, the city has since determined that the thrift store is not legal as long as it charges for any of its items.
Should the Salvation Army decided to give away all of its store items free of charge, there wouldn't be a problem because giving things away to needy people could be considered part of a normal church operation and churches are permitted in single-family residential districts, Ryan said.
The city has given the Salvation Army 30 days to close the store or seek a variance through the city's zoning appeals board.