EASTON, Pa. — Developers behind a pair of low-rise apartment buildings intended for East Berwick Street have gotten Easton Planning Commission approval for the project.
Planners on Wednesday approved special exceptions and recommended conditional preliminary approval for the two buildings, set for 364 and 367 E. Berwick St.
Each building would have 12 units over two stories, with 18 parking spaces per structure.
Variances were required for a few items, including a lack of street trees along Diamond Street, the distance for a setback and the footprint of the principal structure exceeding 15% of the footprint of adjoining properties.
Representing applicant Nic Zawarski, attorney Victor Scomillio explained during the hearing on 364 E. Berwick that while 367 E. Berwick was separate — and handled in a separate hearing — development was similar.
Each building essentially has the same design, Zawarski said.
More housing
Hanover Engineering Associates’ Andrew Bohl said the buildings would be about 8,000 square feet, with 12 units across two floors.
Each would have 18 parking spaces on the property and adequate lighting and landscaping.
Bohl said the existing commercial structures at 364 would be razed, and stormwater would be directed to an onsite inlet in the parking area that links to the sewer line.
"I think it might enhance that area."Hanover Engineering Associates’ Andrew Bohl
Impervious coverage on the site also would be reduced about 20%, he said, amounting to about 6,300 square feet.
The developer also would extend sidewalks on both sides of Frederick Street.
Projected traffic amounts to about 116 trips per day, with an additional eight roundtrips during peak morning and evening hours.
Switching from a commercial to a residential use would not impact surrounding properties, Bohl said.
“In fact, I think it might enhance that area,” he said. “And basically, we feel that this project provides some additional housing in the city.
"And it's also providing some extensive landscaping without the additional landscaping we're proposing on Diamond Street. Currently we have 21 trees and 47 shrubs shown on our plan.
"So I think I hit all the requirements of special exception.”
Apartment sizes, likely rent
Zawarski highlighted that the current property, which once was a meat processing plant, used 367 E. Berwick St. as parking for tractor trailers, posing danger for residents in the area.
“And as you can see on the overview, that the trucks, at least on Diamond Street, there are opportunities where the tractor-trailers are in the right of way for the street, which could pose a hazard,” Zawarski said.
“It's been like that for a while, but I believe with what we're proposing, with the off-street parking and no tractor-trailers, that it would help with the traffic flow.
"Considering this is a residential street, and tractor-trailers going in and out can provide a bit of a nuisance and/or potential hazard or danger.”
As for the layout, Zawarski said the properties essentially would mirror one another from opposite sides of the street.
“And in each building, there's going to be eight two-bedroom units, four one-bedroom units. The two-bedroom units will be approximately 1,292 square feet, and the one-bedrooms will be approximately 1,092 square feet,” Zawarski said.
Rent for one-bedrooms would start around $1,395 a month, with two-bedrooms hovering around $1,895 to $2,000, Zawarski said.
Planning solicitor Joel Scheer advised that an additional driveway on Berwick would require another variance, but the commission could make that recommendation, which then would be presented to the township Zoning Hearing Board.
At least two variances — regarding front yard setbacks and the building footprint — may not even be needed, Scheer said, considering the circumstances of the proposal.
“The other thing tonight you're doing is preliminary plan approval," Scheer said.
"That way they can go to the zoning hearing board, they get their approvals, then they can come back and they can get that accepted."
Safer streets
One nearby resident applauded the concept, saying the new apartments would help cut tractor-trailer traffic and safety issues.
Another speaker during public comment urged the developer to explore smart lighting to help with the city’s Dark Sky Initiative.
The commission approved the recommendation to the zoning hearing board, with the note that the entrance to 364 E. Berwick would be set on Berwick.
The hearing for 367 E. Berwick came right after, with staff stating the proposal was permitted by special exception, though variances for a front yard setback, the size of the building’s footprint and access to the driveway would be required.
The developer is awaiting plan review from Lehigh Valley Planning Commission on that building, with conditional final approval from the LVPC expected within 45 days.
“Basically, the only difference between this project and the other project is this is an undeveloped lot that's been utilized as unauthorized parking,” Bohl said.
“So when we submitted these plans to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, one of the things they looked at was stormwater management.
"Since this was a vacant lot that did not appear to have impervious coverage at the time of the stormwater ordinance, we were required to provide stormwater management facilities for this project.
“That's what we resubmitted back to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission a few weeks ago, and we're awaiting their approval.”
After a few quick questions from the commissioners — one regarding a fence that would be taken down, as it would no longer be necessary — the board recommended conditional preliminary plan approval.
