ZELIENOPLE — The borough is close to implementing changes to its zoning ordinance that are nearly two years in the making.

Zelienople manager Don Pepe said borough staff, including the engineering and zoning officer, the planning commission and borough council have been working on the amendment.

The amendment covers parking criteria, sign criteria, facade alteration and demolition standards, yard regulations and lighting standards.

The ordinance also changes the zoning for property owned by Glade Run Lutheran Services where it plans to construct Jeremiah Village, a $30 million autism-friendly community. Labeled “Lutheran Children’s Home” in the document, the property would be changed from a general residential district to an urban residential district.

Updating zoning ordinances is something every municipality should periodically do to deal with changing circumstances and to correct inconsistent regulations, Pepe said.

The previous zoning amendment was approved in 2007.

None of the revisions would require property owners to immediately make changes to be in compliance, borough engineer Tom Thompson said.

The changes would affect new development or construction, he said.

One new provision is that borough council must approve the demolition of any historically significant structure.

“They (the borough) would prefer to have the ability to reuse an existing facility, maybe for a different use,” Thompson said.

Another new provision is a fee-in-lieu for parking. A new business that can’t meet the requirements for parking spaces can instead opt to pay $1,000 a year per parking space.

The money would be put in a fund to be used for a new parking lot or parking maintenance.

Setback and impervious surface coverage regulations for planned residential districts were altered to be consistent with the same regulations elsewhere in the zoning ordinance.

Lighting standards were updated to meet industry standards, Thompson said.

Also included in the ordinance is land adjacent to the Glade Run campus off Route 68.

The rezoning will allow the organization to officially submit the plans for its Jeremiah Village, said Oliver Stedeford, vice president of organizational advancement.

Though the organization had originally hoped to start construction in 2014 and complete it in 2016, it must first receive all the approvals it needs from the borough, which started with the zoning change, Stedeford said.

Jeremiah Village is a residential community that would include three apartment buildings with elevators and 16 multifamily and single-family homes. It is intended to be autism friendly and open to people of any age.

The plans call for a Phase 1 with 144 apartment units. Phase 2 would be the construction of 64 cottages and townhomes.

After holding a public hearing and getting no comments on Oct. 27, the council voted to advertise for the adoption of the ordinance. The borough’s goal is to have it in place by the end of the year, Pepe said.

The draft of proposed amendments is available by contacting the borough office.