BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. — Bethlehem Township Zoning Hearing Board decided Wednesday that to approve a potential convenience store at 3530 Freemansburg Ave., it needs to see a solidified site plan from the developer.
- A Bethlehem Township Zoning Hearing Board hearing on a proposed convenience store at 3530 Freemansburg Ave. has been continued until Aug. 30
- A medical office building plan for Easton Avenue and Farmersville Road has been sent to township commissioners
- The Chrin V7 and Fields at Farmersville plans will see discussion and vote at a later meeting to be determined
The site of the planned store is in the Streetscape Enhancement Overlay and Neighborhood Enhancement Overlay zoning districts, on a property once home to the Heights Community Federal Credit Union.
The store would have 2,033 square feet of sales area, according to the application.
"We believe their proposal — while it doesn’t involve new construction — it does change the numerous components of the previous layout of this property.”Samuel Cohen, attorney for part of the objecting party
Allentown attorney Samuel Cohen, who represented a couple that was part of the objecting crowd who showed up for the hearing on the proposal Wednesday, said the applicant would be required to submit a site plan considering the proposed layout changes.
“We believe that the application or the hearing in this matter would be premature as a result of the application not including a site plan as required under the township’s ordinance,” Cohen said.
“And in particular, we believe their proposal — while it doesn’t involve new construction — it does change the numerous components of the previous layout of this property.”
Cohen added that with special exception approval, it could have an effect on nearby traffic patterns, parking on site and neighborhood character.
The township zoning code states that the overseeing officer has the ability to waive submission of required site plans based on certain conditions. But township Zoning Officer Samantha Smith wasn’t present at the meeting to do so.
“The only change we made will be to the interior configuration, and the plan that you have, the architectural drawings, speak to that in some detail."Matthew Deschler, attorney representing the applicant
Bethlehem attorney Matthew Deschler, representing developer KGN Tobacco Corp., said since his client wasn’t looking to fundamentally change the use of the existing property — such as add new buildings, off-street parking or a paved area — then a site plan wouldn’t be required, according to township zoning code.
“The only change we made will be to the interior configuration, and the plan that you have, the architectural drawings, speak to that in some detail,” Deschler said.
After deliberation, the board granted the applicant another continuance on the matter.
“The board pretty much agrees that we need to see a site plan,” zoning board Charman Paul Weiss said.
The matter next will be discussed by the zoning hearing board on Aug. 30.
Monday's planning commission meeting
Bethlehem Township Planning Commission on Monday unanimously approved a final development plan for a St. Luke’s University Health Network medical office proposal, sending it to township ommissioners.
If approved, the facility would be a two-story, 45,048-square-foot building on a 5.3-acre lot in the southwest corner at Easton Avenue and Farmersville Road.
A 96-unit apartment complex has been proposed for placement close by.
“The purpose of that is if they did three-to-one, they’d be taking down the people’s fence. It would really cause a lot of hardship on that property. Two-to-one is manageable.”Leslie Walker, planning commission chairman
Before the vote, township engineer Anthony Tallarida explained more on a waiver at play within the applicant’s proposal — one that involves permitting 2:1 grass slopes adjacent to East Reeve Drive and Easton Avenue, where up to 3:1 slopes are permitted.
The first number represents vertical feet, and the second stands for horizontal feet.
The waiver would call for the extension of the sidewalk up to Reeve Drive from the construction site, and would protect homeowners’ property nearby the facility in question, planners Chair Leslie Walker said.
“The purpose of that is if they did three-to-one, they’d be taking down the people’s fence,” Walker said. “It would really cause a lot of hardship on that property. Two-to-one is manageable.”
Commission member Barry Roth and resident Tom Keefer both shared concerns of potential roadway erosion and flooding along Farmersville Road. Walker said the developer’s underground basins could help mitigate those challenges.
The Chrin V7 proposal was taken off the meeting’s agenda by request from the developer, the township website stated. That plan calls for 13 buildings and 256 units of apartments among nearly 17 acres of property at 5218 William Penn Hwy.
The same goes for Fields at Farmersville, as it was pulled from the planners’ discussion. That project could see 108 single-family homes and townhouses on 52 acres and one of the township’s last remaining farm properties at 3107 Farmersville Road.
The planning commission is scheduled to meet next on July 24. Amanda Raudenbush, township community development director, said those interested should keep an eye on the township website for updates on agenda items.
