VALENCIA — About a dozen residents turned out at the borough building Monday night to learn and ask questions about zoning.

The small borough’s council is considering the creation of a zoning ordinance.

On Monday night, Ed Knittel, senior director of education and sustainability at the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, gave a presentation on zoning. Knittel, who traveled from Harrisburg, also answered questions from the council, mayor and residents.

The three-person council and the residents in attendance agreed that the impetus for considering zoning was a for-sale sign placed in a vacant half-acre property across from Valencia United Presbyterian Church that included “no zoning” as part of the enticement to buyers.

Without a zoning ordinance in place to determine what uses are permitted in what parts of the borough, any business could be built on the property.

Knittel said of the 956 boroughs in Pennsylvania, 80 percent have zoning of some kind.

He said with the help of the county planning commission and the boroughs association, a newly formed borough planning commission would come up with a zoning ordinance.

He said the borough’s residents would be asked for their input, and the planning commission would look at similar boroughs’ zoning ordinances to get ideas.

Once a zoning ordinance is created, the planning commission would hold a public hearing to present the document to residents.

The zoning ordinance then would be passed on to the borough council, and another public hearing would be held.

Knittel said the council could approve the document at the public hearing or later.

If no public contention exists regarding the ordinance, the entire process could take six to seven months, Knittel said.

He said signage restrictions, parking requirements and large garbage receptacle rules are the most likely causes of disputes from residents in a new zoning ordinance.

Both the council and the residents in attendance agreed that any potential ordinance must permit home businesses because so many residents work from their properties.

Council President Brian Himmelstein asked if the new planning commission members would require training.

Knittel said that they would require a certain amount of training.

Solicitor Mike Gallagher suggested the council hire a consultant to help create the ordinance.

“That’s going to be your go-to person for questions,” he said.

Knittel said once enacted all property owners would be required to follow the ordinance.

Because Valencia is largely comprised of nonprofit organizations that are tax exempt, council vice president Shanon McKenna asked if a zoning ordinance could be configured to enhance economic development.

“Absolutely,” said Knittel.

After the meeting, the residents who attended seemed pleased with Knittel’s presentation and the council’s intentions in considering a zoning ordinance.

“It’s for our protection,” resident Judie Geortz said of the idea.