By John Tredrea, Special Writer
STOCKTON — Expected to go before the Planning Board in October, Borough Clerk Michele Hovan said, is the Stockton Fire Department’s application to expand the firehouse.
The proposed expansion was discussed by the Borough Council at its Sept. 10 meeting. At the Fire Department’s request, the council “did agree to waive the application fee for the expansion of the firehouse,” Ms. Hovan said.
She said the council also agreed to ask Delaware Township to waive other fees related to the Fire Department’s expansion proposal. Under an interlocal agreement between Stockton Borough and Delaware Township, that township has jurisdiction over whether those fees can be waived.
An amendment to Stockton’s land-use ordinance that permits the addition to the town’s firehouse was adopted by the council at its Aug. 13 meeting.
At its Sept. 10 session, the council introduced a proposed ordinance on bulk requirements that also pertains to the firehouse addition, Ms. Hovan aid. Bulk requirements cover the length, width and height of buildings, the distance they may be from property lines and other factors.
The measure introduced Sept. 10 establishes 30-foot minimum side-yard and rear-yard setbacks for properties in residential zones of the township, Ms. Hovan said. This means construction on properties in those zones may be as close as 30 feet to side-yard and rear-yard property lines. Under state land-use law, construction closer than 30 feet from those property lines would require a variance from a municipality’s zoning board of adjustment.
The proposed ordinance is expected to be on the agenda of the council’s October meeting for a public hearing and adoption vote.

