Bethlehem Zoners Nix 46-Unit South Side Development

HDC's Bruce Weinstger (L) and Ian Rawhauser (R)

Last October, a unanimous ruling by Bethlehem's Zoning Hearing Board paved the way to save St. Stanislaus Church, located at 419-429 Hayes Street. Instead of daily Mass, this historic church would become the hub for 36 affordable apartments, targeted at artists earning 60% of the Lehigh Valley's median income. But an attempt to expand that development by 10 units failed, just as unanimously, during a September 26 hearing

This project is the brainchild of MidAtlantic Housing Development Corporation (HDC), a Pennsylvania nonprofit that specializes in affordable housing, as well as the adaptive reuse of downtown properties. It also provides 24/7 onsite professional management and maintenance.

HDC asked zoners to sign off on an additional 10 units, located at 420-424 Atlantic Street as well as along East 5th Street. Forty-eight parking spaces would be available for the forty-six units proposed. Project manager Ian Rawhauser added that it would be aimed at people earning 60% of the Lehigh Valley's median income.

The one major drawback to this addition, however, is parking. "What makes you think that someone is going to park on Atlantic Street and walk up to Hayes Street?" asked Justina Keller, who has lived in that area for thirty-five years. She also had objections to low or moderate income tenants, calling them people who "throw garbage in the street and yell obscenities at us." She complained that her neighborhood is already in a "downward spiral," and that "camping that many people into that area will be a detriment."

Engineer Bruce Weinstager sees possible encroachment. 

HDC was proposing 1,200 sq. ft. dwelling units instead of the 2,500 sq. ft. required by the Zoning Ordinance.

While zoners were deliberating, Keller expounded. "I love the South Side. I don't like the disrespect that people show when they think they're entitled to something."

Keller's concerns were echoed by Jason Blake, another E. 5th Street resident. He complained that "parking is already beyond the saturation point," and that the proposed population density is simply too high.

According to both Keller and Blake, the area east of East 5th and Atlantic Street is saturated with drug activity, too. "You can see them standing on the corners," remarked Blake out of the earshot of zoners.

As if parking and population density were not enough, Manuel Pena added that sewers in that area are already at full capacity.

The final straw came from a soft-spoken Marcel Rodriguez, who quietly pointed out that the proposed parking lot appears to encroach on his property,

HDC had hoped to start construction on its proposed development next year. It is unclear whether it will still proceed with the 36-unit approval it obtained last year.

In other business, zoners gave Joseph D'Ambrosio a green light fr a three-story dwelling at 217 E 5th Street, where only 2 1/2 stories are allowed. Representing D'Ambrosio, Attorney Jeremy Clark argued that it was a "de mimimis variance" in which the public interest is served without rigid compliance. Architect John Lee testified that granting the application would make the property more "aesthetically appealing" and would only add 78 square feet.

Finally, zoners granted a dimensional variance to National Magnetics Group for an addition at 1210 Win Drive. SEO Paul Overbeck explained that the addition would be 12' away from an adjoining property instead of the 15' required under the newly enacted zoning ordinance. He told zoners that his proposed addition would follow the same line as two previous additions they had approved.

The Zoning hearing Board's next regularly scheduled meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 24, 7 PM, at Bethlehem's Town Hall.