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Thursday, October 25, 2012

Abe Aims at Bethlehem Township

Abe Atiyeh sure gets a lot of ink. Last week alone, I covered two very long nights of hearings with him before Bethlehem's Zoning Hearing Board. Every news outlet in the universe was there, too. He doesn't need to advertise himself, but that's what he just did. He took out a full page ad in Wednesday's Morning Call, to complain about increased traffic and density that will come from two recently approved developments in Bethlehem Township, where he lives.

His ad was a prelude to a meeting of the Township's ZHB last night, where he's challenging the zoning that made those developments possible.

The first of these developments is William Penn Commons, which will soon be a high-end Scheetz gas station along William Penn Highway, right across the street from Farmersville Elementary School. Lou Pektor and Ed Novak are working that deal. Because of improvements to pedestrian access along William Penn Highway, Farmersville Elementary School actually supports the project, located a stone's throw from Route 33.

The other development is a humongous 103.9 acre site of farmland. It will be a self-contained traditional neighborhood on the north side of Freemansburg Avenue, replete with walking trails, two ponds, restaurants and a Shop-Rite supermarket. It's called Madison Farms for some reason.

Township officials and developers call it smart growth, consistent with the comprehensive plan. Atiyeh calls it sprawl and contract zoning.

I was unable to cover last night's adventures in Bethlehem Township because I was covering Bethlehem's Zoning Hearing Board.
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9 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 25, 2012 at 12:27 AM

    The Rajah of Rezoning, no like other rezoning.

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  2. zoidOctober 25, 2012 at 9:06 AM

    Abe's two appeals are filed he says because he is an affected property owner owning rental properties near each site. It remains to be seen yet if he actually does have standing. Jim Preston representing the township suggested to the ZHB that each side file legal briefs to the board citing the legal reasonings and case law for the 6 points or whatever it was on which the appeal was based and the ZHB agreed and continued the hearings against Abe's wishes as he wanted to present his case. He says these developments negatively impact the township yet these parcels have been zoned for this type of development and planned as such for many years. When the township did the corridor study for Freemansburg a number of years ago each parcel along that road as well as other connected undeveloped parcels were taken into account in the study and planning, including Madison Farms site. This project has been on the books since the early 2000's. But he does not want it yet he wants to put drug addicts and alcoholics and other shady individuals and uses in residential neighborhoods and next to schools. Somebody has to do something with this guy. One lady was at the ZHB meeting and she was upset as were several others that Abe sent out these fliers with information that is just not factual and she was upset that he is costing the taxpayers money.

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  3. AnonymousOctober 25, 2012 at 10:10 AM

    A high end Scheetz Gas Station? What's that? Will uniformed waiters deliver your chili cheese dogs and beef jerky to your range rover at curbside?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bernie O'HareOctober 25, 2012 at 10:12 AM

    Heh heh. I consider Scheetz and WaWa high end gas stations.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousOctober 25, 2012 at 11:34 AM

    Mr. Atiyeh is vindictive ,,,,,, he has no other reason to fight these issues. His plans in Bethlehem Township have failed and his campaign to get his wife elected failed.

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  6. AnonymousOctober 25, 2012 at 12:44 PM

    Scheetz is real swanky. I took my ex-wife there for our anniversary - once.

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  7. AnonymousOctober 25, 2012 at 7:49 PM

    his wife says he doesn't aim well at all

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousOctober 26, 2012 at 5:08 PM

    Having just moved to Bethlehem Township one year ago I was very pleased with the ambiance of the area with the wide open spaces and lack of crowded developments and business areas. TO good to be true I guess.

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  9. AnonymousOctober 26, 2012 at 11:19 PM

    5:08 Wide open spaces in Bethlehem Township? Are you freakn kidding me? Maybe 30 years ago. This Township is practically developed out. It has two major highways running right through it along with a Hospital, Shopping Centers, and all the typical suburban spaces. You are off base on your observations. Wide open spaces would be more like north central and north east Northampton County.

    ReplyDelete

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