County zoning board approves variance to allow storage unit construction in Mahanoy
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - This fenced-in property on East Mahanoy Street in Mahanoy City, seen on June 9, 2025, is where Jeff Bowers sought permission to build a six-unit self-storage facility.
POTTSVILLE – A prominent Mahanoy City businessman sought zoning approval Monday to build a self-storage facility on a long-vacant piece of land on East Mahanoy Street.
Jeff Bowers’ application was one of three heard by the Schuylkill County Zoning Hearing Board at the courthouse in Pottsville Monday night.
Bowers, represented by Attorney John Hampton, testified that he plans to build a 40′ by 70′ building in the 900 block of East Mahanoy Street. The property was once the site of a bowling alley, long since demolished.
The building would contain six storage units, he said.
Bowers sought a use variance as the property is zoned high-density residential and a self storage facility is not permitted in such a district.
“We don’t anticipate parking to be a problem in the area,” Hampton said. “We don’t anticipate a whole lot of activity, to be honest. People don’t go to self storage garages to hang out. They go there, they put in their couches, and then they leave.”
Hampton, attempting to justify the need for such a storage facility, described what he called a “horrendous” situation.
“I don’t know how often the board members go into Mahanoy City. If you go into the alleys in Mahanoy City and you look a the amount of personal property that people put in their backyards, it’s horrendous,” Hampton said. “They have all kinds of things that they should actually be storing in self storage units.”
“There’s a real need in this town to have a place for people to go with their stuff, but they don’t, they put it in their backyard,” Hampton said. “Quite frankly, it looks like heck.”
“Counsel, what does that have to do with this property,” Frank Zangari, board member said.
“This property would alleviate that problem,” Hampton said. “Not considerably, but.”
“It sounds like the problem you’re bringing up is a code issue, not an issue referencing zoning,” Zangari said.
Bowers said the facility would operate from sunrise to sunset, or 7am to 7pm.
About a dozen people attended, with some voicing support and others voicing opposition.
Ken Soult, who lives about a block away from the proposed facility, said nearby empty lots had been turned into dumping grounds and he welcomes the proposed facility.
“What Mr. Bowers here is doing, I think is a great thing for the street, whether people agree or disagree,” Soult said. “If that lot stays vacant, he happens to sell it to somebody else, freshly from out of the area, it’s going to turn into an eyesore that What I believe is my nice home has to get up and look at every day.”
Salvador Teron, who owns property in the 800 block of Mahanoy Street, decried the impact of a storage unit on the property values and safety in the neighborhood. He said he had worked at storage facilities in eastern New Jersey in the New York City metro area.
Zangari expressed concern regarding the storage of flammable liquids. Bowers, who operates other units in town and in Saint Clair, initially said there is no storage of flammable liquids in his facilities. Later, he mentioned vehicles being stored, which prompted Zangari to ask for clarification.
“No flammable liquids in containers,” he clarified.
Bowers also mentioned that other units of his are rented by business owners.
Zangari motioned to approve the use variance with the conditions that Bowers inspect the units every 30 days and to allow the storage of only items that are considered personal and residential in nature. Mary Jo Moss seconded and the board approved unanimously.
In other business, the board heard an appeal from a New Jersey firm seeking approval for a lot size variance to allow a double-block home to be sold as two.
The double-block is at the end of a row at 927 Walnut Street with a breezeway on one side and additional homes on the other.
Noemy Lopez, representing YHVH Homes, LLC., with representation from Hampton, testified seeking the variance.
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