ZELIENOPLE — Council heard from a local property owner and others requesting that he be permitted to build a duplex in the borough.

Thomas Myers received a variance from the Zoning Hearing Board to build a duplex on two lots on Jefferson Street. But council is challenging the decision, saying that this was a variance that board did not have the authority to grant.

Myers is requesting the borough let the decision stand, saying that the current zoning is impractical and that borough residents support the plan.

“Every single neighbor approved the duplex. Left, right, across the street, they all support it,” he said.

Myers told council he plans to spend around $300,000 on the structure and that he could provide them with pictures of the plan.

“If allowed, I’m going to put in a nice duplex. I’m going to spend a lot of my own money,” he said. “I can spend my money somewhere else, but I thought it’d be a real nice thing for the borough.”

Other residents spoke in support of Myers and said they had no problem with his plans.

Borough solicitor Bonnie Brimmeier said after the meeting that council is appealing the decision because it believes the zoning hearing board overstepped its bounds in granting the ordinance.

“You have to meet criteria for a variance,” she said. “The Zoning Hearing Board doesn’t have the authority to just grant a variance unless it meets certain criteria, and it did not. Essentially you have to be able to prove that you cannot use the property for what its zoned for. And clearly it can be used for a single family home.”