Owners seek zoning change for former E. Main Street Methodist Church property

LOCK HAVEN, PA – The new owners of the old E. Main Street United Methodist Church in Lock Haven are seeking a rezoning for the property. City council heard by letter Monday night from the plot owner, 509 East Main Street, LLC.

The owners, Brady Carnahan, Micah Clausen, John Gradel and Robert Maguire, purchased the building and adjoining parking lot at a September auction. Their letter said the purchase was made with the intention of saving the structure and revitalizing the city’s downtown. After showing the property to several prospective purchasers, they wrote, they learned that potential tenants want the area zoned commercial, rather than its present residential zoning.

The group is asking the city to extend the existing central business district zoning on E. Main two more blocks eastward, from Henderson Street to Hanna Street, the request for the street’s north side only, bounded on the north by Jordans Alley.

Council approved forwarding the rezoning request to the city and county planning commissions for their review and feedback to council.

Based on discussion at council’s Monday night session, city property owners could be looking at their first increase in real estate taxes since 2015. Council wants City Manager Greg Wilson to calculate how much taxes would have to go up to generate another $200,000 in revenue to balance the city’s 2022 budget. Action on any increase could come as soon as council’s next meeting, scheduled for Monday, Dec. 6.

The city had real estate tax hikes every year from 2012 through 2015, and no increases since then. On a related note, council approved sending a letter to the Clinton County Commissioners asking them to put money in the county budget for a countywide property reassessment.