Property owners, residential or commercial, taking an appeal before Northampton Borough Zoning Hearing Board will notice a hefty fee hike following a Jan. 6 action by Northampton Borough Council.

The new fee is $500, up from the $350 fee that was previously in place.

Whether the appeal from the borough’s zoning board involves a fence, setback or a much larger issue, the fee is the same.

It’s “win or lose,” borough Manager LeRoy Brobst said, regarding the nonrefundable fee and the board’s decision on the appeal.

Councilman Robert McHale made the case before his colleagues for the hike in such appeals. He said a breakdown of the costs for an appeal is closer to $600, but he called for $500.

McHale provided an estimated amount the borough incurs for a two-hour hearing - $200 an hour for the solicitor representation, $50 an hour for a stenographer, overtime pay for a borough zoning office individual, $40 for each of the five zoning board members and other expenses.

None of the seven other council members weighed in on the discussion but voted unanimously for the fee hike.

In other news, Brobst said if all is in order, including grant approval and paperwork, the borough will proceed with erecting a pavilion on the grounds of Northampton Borough Municipal Swimming Pool on Laubach Avenue. The design of the pavilion will be similar to the pavilions at Municipal Park, Smith Lane and Laubach Avenue; however, it will be somewhat smaller. It is expected the new pavilion will be available for the 2020 summer season.