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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The city&#8217;s Zoning Hearing Board has approved plans to add another courtroom as part of the expansion of the Luzerne County Central Court building next to the prison.</p><p>The board voted 4-0 Wednesday to grant the special exception over the opposition of Susan Timchack, whose Priestly Street residence is located across the street from the converted office building that has been home to the court since October.</p><p>The project will add a second courtroom, a waiting area and restrooms to the existing building that formerly housed the county Veterans Affairs Office. In addition, it will take up seven parking spots on county property along Water Street.</p><p>Timchack was the sole opponent who spoke up at the board&#8217;s regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The expansion was the only case before the board.</p><p>Timchack said she bought her house because it was affordable and close to work. With court proceedings going on daily, she has trouble parking and has even found people sitting on her porch to get out of the rain while waiting for rides, she said.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not pleasant being there anymore,&#8221; said Timchack.</p><p>She told the board she expects more activity with the added courtroom.</p><p>But Eddie O&#8217;Neill, the county&#8217;s director of operational services, said the volume of cases will not double with the additional room.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not going to expand the operations,&#8221; he said.</p><p>The idea for central court was to eliminate transporting inmates from the neighboring Luzerne County Correctional Facility to district courts throughout the county, O&#8217;Neill explained. High-profile cases are still held at the county courthouse because it has the capacity and security to handle those types of hearings, he added.</p><p>O&#8217;Neill offered to sit down and meet with Timchack to resolve some of the problems.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Central Court expansion approved by Wilkes-Barre Zoning Hearing Board