BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Plans for a new five-unit townhome project in West Bethlehem recently got approval by the city Zoning Hearing Board.
Located at 1224 Eaton Ave., a third of a mile from the former Martin Tower site now home to medical office buildings, the “narrow” project site would have three single-family townhomes in one cluster.
It also would have two semi-detached single-family homes in another cluster, according to developer Abe Atiyeh.
Project drawings list two-story buildings at 30 feet tall.
With the vote from zoners on Dec. 17, project plans moved forward with a dimensional variance allowing reduction in the lot area required per dwelling.Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board
A multi-family apartment building sits to the east, and Heckenberger Dental operates to the west. Other residential areas surround the site.
With the vote from zoners on Dec. 17, project plans moved forward with a dimensional variance allowing reduction in the lot area required per dwelling.
It will mean a few feet off the width of the parking aisle and half-a-foot less for driveway setback “from a residential property line when in a front yard,” according to the meeting agenda.
Fit surrounding uses
The townhome project, from Atiyeh and PAJ Venture LP, would be built behind an existing, occupied single-family home set to be retained.
“Really it wants to add without subtracting."Attorney Michael Recchiuti
“Really it wants to add without subtracting,” applicant attorney Michael Recchiuti said.
Project officials said the lot was “underutilized” and would fit among surrounding uses in the RG-Medium Density Residential Zoning District.
Recchiuti said finalized plans will feature one less unit and more green space versus what’s shown on files currently available on the city website.
Once proposing six new townhomes, developers avoided another variance-approval process by knocking one unit off the previous proposed total.
Officials said the Bethlehem City Planning Bureau and Commission both approved demolition of the existing home on site under the previous plan, which also came with some different layout features.
For example, the new project’s driveway, once planned as an expansion of an existing drive on one side of the site, had to be moved in the current version.
Some trees were saved in the process, officials said.
