Centralized Human Services Bldg Gets Green Light

Planner Kenn Edinger worries about safety at mid-block crosswalk

At their March 25 meeting, Bethlehem Township Planning Commission unanimously endorsed a revised land plan for a centralized human services building at 2801 Emrick Boulevard. In February, Northampton County Council signed off on a 15-year lease for a 3-story, 66,375 sq ft building on 5.36 acres, with 256 parking places, at a cost of about a million dollars a year in rent. Because the plan previously approved by planners contemplated a medical office building, it had to be revised for human services. The plan must also be endorsed by the Board of Commissioners.

Planners are concerned, however, about a new bus stop being proposed by LANTA at the site. It includes a mid-block cross-walk. "We already got a problem at the Community College," complained resident Barry Roth, referring to a mid-bloc pedestrian crossing there. "Somebody's gonna' get hurt. It's not going to look good on the front page of the newspaper."

Roth's concerns were shared by Planner Kenn Edinger, who suggested that safety concerns be addressed. "I like the idea," he added. Project manager Jim Gentile assured planners that the safety concerns will be addressed.

This project, which is imminent, will result in 100 construction jobs at prevailing wages.

In other business, planner considered a Coordinate Health proposal for a 3-story, 49,000 sq ft medical facility contiguous to Outback Steakhouse. Attorney Tom Stitt, representing the Outback, urged planners, "Don't just rush this through." He complained he had concerns about drainage, parking and access.

Lee Snover worries about overcrowding at Coordinated Health

Although he's been a patient at Coordinated Health, Stitt told planners, "I don't want to be the first patient whose car gets towed." Chairperson Lee Snover noted that Coordinated Health does get crowded at other sites. "They get their foot in the door, and then explode in the building," she observed. Edinger added that Coordinated Health has a "bad track record" as a result of "overbooking."

Coordinated Health's Erin Kintzer, however, told planners that "this facility is different." She noted it is an out-patient facility, not a hospital.

Planner James Daley told Stitt, "Nothing goes zipping through here."

And it didn't. The plan is under review by township officials and engineers. "The bottom line is they gotta' meet with what the Ordinance say," noted Daley. "If our Ordinance is deficient, feel free to bring it up with the Board of Commissioners."