BETHLEHEM, Pa. — An industrial hydraulics operation near the city limits is set for an expansion of its warehouse facilities.
The city Planning Commission on Thursday approved a 52,395-square-foot addition proposed for 2300 City Line Road, near the Airport Road intersection.
The land development request comes from Bosch Rexroth Corp., which specializes in the “efficient, powerful and safe movement in machines and systems of any size,” its website reads.
“We’ve very excited with this opportunity and the chance of bringing it forward, substantiating our footprint of manufacturing, warehousing here in the Lehigh Valley."Andreas Hassold, project manager and engineering manager with Bosch Rexroth
“We’ve very excited with this opportunity and the chance of bringing it forward, substantiating our footprint of manufacturing, and warehousing here in the Lehigh Valley,” said Andreas Hassold, project manager and engineering manager with Bosch Rexroth.
The company operates within the city’s General Commercial zoning district. A warehouse use in this district is allowed “by right,” meaning it needs no special approval from officials regarding the land use, as long as developers follow city procedure from there.
A by-right use of the land
The more than 50,000 additional square feet in the warehouse will complement an existing company facility that’s around 33,000 square feet.
The single-story expansion will be about 35 feet tall, with five truck loading bays and 103 nearby parking spaces, according to project plans.
Site access on City Line Road will come with two driveways, though getting to and from Airport Road will require using an existing shared drive.
“It’s refreshing to see it’s an application that is by right; it’s a great use. It’s an appropriate use in the appropriate area — an expansion of an existing business here within the city.”Matthew Malozi, Bethlehem City Planning Commission vice chair
City planners seemed to like what they saw in the project, and unanimously approved the development request and a sidewalk deferral for Airport Road.
Commission Chairman Robert Melosky was absent.
“It’s refreshing to see it’s an application that is by right; it’s a great use,” Vice Chairman Matthew Malozi said.
“It’s an appropriate use in the appropriate area — an expansion of an existing business here within the city.”
