Shenandoah zoning board tables re-use of former OLMC, pending solicitor review
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - The former Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church is seen at Washington and Diamond Streets on Sept. 19, 2023.
SHENANDOAH – Shenandoah zoners on Tuesday tabled a proposal to allow a new church to use the former Our Lady of Mt. Carmel building at Washington and Diamond Streets, pending solicitor review.
The matter was brought before the Shenandoah Zoning Hearing Board because the building sits in a residential district and a church is classified as a commercial use under Shenandoah’s zoning ordinance.
Iglesia Camino Al Cielo, Inc. purchased the church building from Dino and Karen Cicioni last year for $150,000.
Dino Cicioni, of Pattersonville, who was present at Tuesday’s hearing, said he purchased the church from the Diocese of Allentown and hoped to keep the building as a church. He was a lifetime parishioner at the former Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish, which was closed by the diocese in 2014.
The church has around eight parishioners currently, representatives of the church said at the hearing.
Concerns were raised over parking, as the church has only five spaces on the property.
“I’d like to see this stay as a church so that it’s maintained, it’s being used, and it’s being used as a house of worship. We don’t need another eyesore in Shenandoah.”
Shenandoah Mayor Andrew Szczyglak
Cicioni said he has given permission to use his lot at Chestnut and Washington Streets for parking.
Shenandoah Mayor Andrew Szczyglak expressed support for the parish.
“One of the biggest problems we have in Shenandoah is blight. Dilapidated buildings, buildings falling down,” Szczyglak told the board. “Every other day, there’s a call coming in that a building is falling down.”
“I’d like to see this stay as a church so that it’s maintained, it’s being used, and it’s being used as a house of worship,” Szczyglak said. “We don’t need another eyesore in Shenandoah.”
Zoning Solicitor Bill Burke was not present at the meeting, and the board had multiple legal concerns over what would be required of the church if it is reopened.
“We’ve never had this problem in town where a church was shut and opened up again so it’s something new,” Board Chairman Charles Vascavage said.
Many of the zoning regulations that likely apply to the proposed church do not apply to many of the other churches in town, as they were open long before zoning regulations were approved and are therefore grandfathered.
The matter will be revisited at a later date.
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