Because I was at a basketball game, I missed the deliberations and vote. But Agent 54 was there, and let me know what happened. he also provided a copy of a motion that Attorney Micahel Shay filed, seeking to strike the testimony of Darlene Heller. That motion was also denied, 3-0.
Shay argues that Heller was essentially acting as a witness for developer Michael Perrucci.
It's perfectly acceptable for a Planning Director to appear on behalf of a Planning Commission that is recommending variances. This ios expressly permitted by the Pa Municipalities Planning Code. In this case, she was there to relay the recommendation of the Planning Commission. But she went too far, injecting her own opinions about some of the testimony opposed to the variances. What I also find noteworthy is that whenever Heller does appear on behalf of a developer, it is Michael Perrucci.
Below is Shay's motion.
May Planning Director Testify in Support of Zoning Appeal by BernieOHare on Scribd
So the connection to Perruci? The would be their government guy, former Mayor Callahan.
ReplyDeleteAll roads do come together in Bedlam.
dem inbreeding
ReplyDeleteWhy no article of Jim Hickey's plea?
ReplyDeleteWaaaa......fix the place up for crying out loud. The place is a eyesore!
ReplyDelete7:19 - couldn't of happenned to a more worthy scumbag
ReplyDeleteSeems like a little Jim Hickey bias on this blog with little or no mention of him ever.
ReplyDeleteYour Hickey references are OT. I purposely refrained from writing about him bc he and I are friends. I intend to do so now. Additional OT comments will be deleted.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Hill-to-Hill Bridge goes under rehabilitation or replacement in 2020 (check the LVPC TIP), this neighborhood is going to experience traffic misery due to passenger cars and trucks seeking alternate routes across the Lehigh.
ReplyDeleteThe Fahy is the only relief route for West Bethlehem and the additional capacity, now little-used, on Second Avenue May be needed. THERE ARE NO MITIGATION PLANS YET. This is going to be at least a two-year project with major implications. Darlene Heller knows. I reminded her in October at the first meeting. She was dismissive.
John-Second avenue will still be able to carry one lane of traffic each way, just as it does now. There just won't be a large island median in the middle.
ReplyDeleteOne thing about this development on this property. This building will be in relation to many others a brick shit house. I don’t mean these derogatory in any way . I mean that’s an expression for very good constricted dwellings and this place will be essentially hold up to anything. And be FIRE resistant . I’ve been in there many times and the right developer can have a strong well constructed venue. This is great this will be a great building to live in for somebody rather than the crap fire prone construction I see around this valley .
ReplyDeleteEveryone around here for years wanted this place fixed up and now that someone is willing to fix it up,all these nuts think they have the right to decide what to do with it. If they wanted to determine what happens to the building ,they should have all got together and bought it and do whatever they wanted with it. Problem solved!
ReplyDeleteThese "nuts", as you call them, happen to be citizens of Bethlehem who care enough about their community to appear at a zoning hearing. Regardless of the merits of this matter, this disparaging reference only aids the perception among many that city government is unresponsive and uncaringand only listens to those who can afford to spend huge sums of money.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great project it will be a huge improvement for the neighborhood. Bethlehem is developing a reputation for being anti-development
ReplyDeleteBethlehem is developing a reputation for being a community in which neighbors with valid concerns are derided as "nuts" by those with money. Not one neighbor was against this project. It was only the density that bothered them.
ReplyDeleteI will keep my fingers crossed that parking works out. The project itself is a HUGE improvement for that entire block. It looks awful now, and has for many years.
ReplyDelete3:33 - I’ll ask you to revisit your comment about the carrying capacity of Second Avenue after the Tilghman Street is closed. There will be a lot of cars chasing alternate paths across the river in Allentown once that happens. I also live in this area, but on the other side of 378 and I expect that my street will become a de facto detour to the Fahy. This project will be getting going just about the time bridge work begins. Look at the Benner building on South New to see how traffic flows on these little streets. I want the armory project, scaled well and with people who love the city, though I suspect the timing will add to misery based on PennDOT’s schedule.
ReplyDeleteThe proposed project has 70 units, the zoning allows for 79. They did not seek a variance for density but parking. The project as proposed has adequate parking for this type of urban infill development. I wish we had more and not less of these kind of projects in Bethlehem!!
ReplyDeleteSmart growth at its best!