County Eyes Conservation Area Along Monocacy Creek

Bastidas and students at prior meeting

In early February, it looked as though developer Michael Perrucci just might get a green light for a luxury apartment complex and commercial buildings in Bethlehem Township, nestled between th 55-acre Housenick Memorial Park and Northampton County's 36-acre Archibald Johnston Conservation Area. Only Commissioner Tom Nolan was "totally opposed" to the project, which is located in a zoning conservation overlay of a rural residential area.

But after several frigid meetings with environmental activist Vicky Bastidas at Housenick Park, Commissioners Phil Barnard and Martin Zawarski announced at the March 5 Commissioners' meeting that they've have had a change of heart. They now join Nolan in opposing any deviation from the zoning conservation overlay.

This effectively stalls Perrucci's proposal.

Perrucci's proposed development, off Christian Springs Road, is located at a recharging point for the Monocacy Creek.. Hundreds of small springs, along a one mile length of the stream in that area, force ground water back to the surface, creating a Class A wild-trout stream. County officials are now weighing a purchase of this environmentally sensitive land from Central Moravian Church, its legal owner. In addition to environmental concerns, County Executive John Stoffa worries that additional development near Monocacy Creek could lead to more flooding in Bethlehem, which disrupted Musikfest last year.

One million dollars has been earmarked for environmentally sensitive land in the County's 2012 budget.

"This land does not have to be developed," Bastidas pleaded to Commissioners. "There is money for preservation of this property. Northampton County has money."

Stoffa has reportedly called these three tracts - Housenick Park, Archibald Johnston Conservation Area and Central Moravian Church lands - a "Lehigh Valley Central Park."

"I'd suggest you pursue that course with the Moravians," retorted Commissioner Michael Hudak, who disputed that the county has any interest in acquiring the tract.

President Paul Weiss warned Bastidas, "Your comments are very subjective. Some of them are baseless."

Both Weiss and Hudak, despite a 3-2 straw vote against development, urged Central Moravian Church Pastor Carol Reifinger to continue planning with developer Michael Perrucci.

"We'll regroup and decide," stated Moravian attorney Kevin Kelleher after the meeting was over.

Commissioners will meet again on Monday, March 19, 7 PM at the Municipal Building, located at 4225 Easton Avenue.