BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. — Bethlehem Township commissioners on Monday night granted conditional use and final plan approval for a 96-unit garden apartment development at 4406 Easton Ave.
The lot at Easton Avenue and Farmersville Road is currently used as a salvage yard.
- Bethlehem Township commissioners approved a 96-unit apartment development for 4406 Easton Avenue
- The lot is currently used as a salvage yard
- The township also plans to use $90,000 from its stormwater fund to mitigate flooding at Bethman Road and Fairway Drive
Commissioners gave unanimous approval based on a number of conditions, one including an agreement between the township and applicant to address potential stormwater concerns that could arise from building. Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Inc. — a civil engineering firm out of Harrisburg — was tasked with analyzing the potential impacts.
“HRG recommends that the Township coordinate with the Developer to address the deficiencies of the existing 36” x 72” stone block culvert crossing Farmersville Road and improve or extend stormwater infrastructure in order to reduce the risk of Farmersville Road overtopping and potential failure of the existing 36” x 72” stone box culvert,” wrote Shahjabin Alam, HRG group manager, in a letter to Township Manager Doug Bruce.
Before the vote, Commissioner John Gallagher asked if the potential environmental effect of oils and gasoline on the salvage yard property had been noted during the process. Anthony Tallarida, township engineer, said there have been two phases of environmental study completed, with no problems.
Highview Commercial LLC of Red Bank, New Jersey, proposed the two-building project slated to sit on 4.8 acres along the southeastern corner of Easton Avenue and Farmersville Road.
The development will include two, three-story structures — one 60-unit and one 36-unit building — located within the General Overlay Commercial Zoning District and the Commercial Enhancement and Streetscape Enhancement Overlay zoning districts, according to submitted documentation from the applicant. The lot would also include an off-street parking area.
The 60-unit building would cover 25,150 square feet, while the 36-unit building would take up 12,623 square feet. “Garden Apartment Use” is considered a “conditional use” and requires special approval, according to the township's Commercial Enhancement Overlay District classification.
A single driveway would connect to Farmersville Road, and two underground infiltration beds would complement a stormwater management system on site.
At the June 5 board meeting, a representative for the applicant the rental cost of each unit would depend on market demand at the time of construction, adding the one-bedroom apartments could rent for $1,500 monthly, while the two-bedroom ones could cost $2,000.
Stormwater improvements
The board voted unanimously in favor of amending the township's stormwater capital improvement plan to make way for a $90,000 “micro” stormwater project, in hopes of handling flooding problems at the intersection of Bethman Road and Fairway Drive. The township’s municipal authority would head the improvements.
“The flooding there is a particular problem in the winter because it freezes, and our public works department has to throw a lot of salt down to keep the road open."Township Manager Doug Bruce, speaking about the intersection of Bethman Road and Fairway Drive
HRG has also been assigned to propose potential solutions to that issue.
“Based on the preliminary analysis, the most cost-effective solution to resolve the ponding occurring at this intersection will be accomplished through an extension of storm sewer to the system located approximately 100 feet north of the intersection,” HRG’s Alam wrote in a letter to the township manager.
Alam recommended using money from the stormwater fund to cover the project cost, adding this could help the project “to be implemented sooner.”
“The flooding there is a particular problem in the winter because it freezes, and our public works department has to throw a lot of salt down to keep the road open,” Bruce said.
Barry Roth, planning commission member, said there are also other locations around the area that need immediate attention, including his neighborhood at Chetwin Terrace. The township manager said that particular location would cost $5 million to fix, and this $90,000 project is more attainable immediately.
Safer crosswalks
Commissioners also voted 4-0 in favor of allowing the township manager to advertise for bid enhancement projects for pedestrian crossings on Oakland and Hecktown roads. These would include school zone flashing warning devices and a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon design at Hecktown Road and Dartmouth Drive, as well as at Oakland and Santee roads.
Commissioner Gallagher said those roads lead to area schools such as Freedom High School, East Hills Middle School and Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School. He added that if no bids were placed, the township could pursue a single contractor to handle the project.
