tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post7100987370299829807..comments2024-03-29T11:06:45.862-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: For Second Time, Bethlehem Zoners Approve Elias Market ExpansionBernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-76889381937235467912010-12-04T01:17:39.538-05:002010-12-04T01:17:39.538-05:00Thank you Al and your group for stopping a warehou...Thank you Al and your group for stopping a warehouse/distribution center from invading our beautiful neighborhood. Elias would be out of his mind to pay such big bucks to build such a large warehouse building with three loading docks and not be able to store products for sale in their other stores and also to continue to be able to deliver to customers and wholesalers and be able to EVER increase his small retail area. Did Zoning Officer do his job yet and impose a "Cease and Desist" on them yet since they have already admitted in testimony from George Azar to delivering to customers and wholesalers and to their other store? YOU STOPPED THEM!!! THANK YOU BHA and AL'S GROUP!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-83554276076763506132010-12-02T17:27:11.084-05:002010-12-02T17:27:11.084-05:00I've listed them in this blog. Maybe I out you...I've listed them in this blog. Maybe I out you to sleep before you got to it. <br /><br /><em>"In granting the expansion, zoners have imposed stiff conditions: use of the warehouse for wholesale distribution is banned; idling by any vehicles or storage of any buses or trucks not already owned by Elias is prohibited; no refrigerated trucks may run on the property; compressors must face Linden Street, away from residences; buffering and landscaping is required; no expansion in hours of operation; no additional retail space is permitted; no future expansions of the warehouse will be permitted; and no trash pick-up before 8 AM."</em>Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-8244948670090706042010-12-02T13:58:15.474-05:002010-12-02T13:58:15.474-05:00Does anyone know what conditions were put on the E...Does anyone know what conditions were put on the Elias market?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-79999230763864166852010-12-02T00:35:31.857-05:002010-12-02T00:35:31.857-05:00Elias Market's owners were invited to the neig...Elias Market's owners were invited to the neighborhood meeting held at NCC but they never attended. They only want to host the meeting in their own store which is not a neutral place for meeting. <br /><br />The problem with Elias Market was that they did not present truthful information to the ZHB at the beginning and never want to work with the neighbors to resolve the difference. They said the loading dock is so unsafe that is not being used, but the fact showed they used it every day; they said the outbuildings were used as storage, but witness who rented it before told ZHB it was a rental property. I mean how could you make up the story like that in order to get what you want?<br /> ZHB of Bethlehem did not want to believe that they were fooled by the Market before and did not hear any truth. They do not like people who told them they were wrong. <br /><br />Elias Market want to build 3 loading docks just 40 feet next to neighbor’s backyard and told the neighbors you are not even going to notice it. The neighbors must be deaf and blind when the tractor trailer blowing the fume at your face. <br /><br />Come on, show some compassion and respect to neighbors, money is good, but enough is enough! Think about other people before you do anything invasive to others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-80561168437418227062010-12-01T21:58:59.188-05:002010-12-01T21:58:59.188-05:00Each time I read about coverage of the Elias Marke...Each time I read about coverage of the Elias Market situation in the local papers, I get upset thinking that readers might get the impression that an entire neighborhood is against the market expansion. The fact is, four or five people are against it, and the majority of us either don't care; or have other problems to worry about. Some are worried about keeping their jobs instead of complaining about not being able to perform their jobs due to lack of sleep from noise or fumes invading their near half million dollar home purchased behind a busy existing market. Many of us have actually gone to the market to discuss the plans with the owners before spending time at zoning meetings. By his own admission, Mr. Bernotas, who seems to be the spokesperson of this small group, has never met with the owners outside of zoning meetings. <br /><br />Instead of trying to reach a compromise, the dissenting faction hired a lawyer to state their case. Now this group is asking for donations to pay their legal fees. Someone asked "Who won?" The legal firm hired won. <br /><br />Since taking over the market, the Elias Family has been blamed for everything from crimes comitted in the area to people exceeding the speed limit on Johnston Drive. The orginal list of complaints even implied that illegal immigrants were living on the property. It suggested that the Elias' family was "flaunting the law." It was said people were openly urinating after hours and using the lot as a motorcycle repair facility. Yet witnesses to these events never bothered to call the police. Why do that when you can rabble rouse via e-mail and chastise people for lack of support?<br /><br />I prefer to think of my neighborhood where Luminaria Night started than the neighborhood where residents can't seem to work out differences with other neighbors. And I have to wonder if the noise and problems regarding the market will come up in disclosure should these people who are complaining decide to sell their homes in better economic times.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13980553044766631998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-6435216878214746092010-12-01T21:39:33.497-05:002010-12-01T21:39:33.497-05:00"The neighbors will become Bethlehem's mu...<em>"The neighbors will become Bethlehem's mujahideen!"</em><br /><br />Oh my goodness! I just can't picture Al Bernotas in a turban and flowing robes. But if that's what happens, Elias sells great hummus.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-18344413097320388012010-12-01T18:21:38.116-05:002010-12-01T18:21:38.116-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13980553044766631998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-56934077996095360702010-12-01T16:55:16.567-05:002010-12-01T16:55:16.567-05:00Bernie: Your headline should read, "FOR SECON...Bernie: Your headline should read, "FOR SECOND TIME, BETHLEHEM ZONERS GET IT WRONG." Based upon the facts provided to the Zoning Hearing Board, by a Zoning Officer with questionable integrity, the ZHB made their first erroneous decision. But giving them the benefit of the doubt, they were given a second chance to heard accurate and factual information. They chose not to give the new information credence. They too show that they lack integrity. And remember this, the neighbors are not going anywhere and Elias Market will reside in hostile territory for as long as they attempt to crush the neighbors and the neighborhood. If they expand this site, this fight will never be over. The neighbors will become Bethlehem's mujahideen!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-87920043770607483512010-11-30T16:53:56.690-05:002010-11-30T16:53:56.690-05:00omg, you sound very angry and/or racist against Ne...omg, you sound very angry and/or racist against New Jerseyians or New Yorkers, shame shame on you!! Why doesn't Elias move to the industrial area where no one cares how big you get which isn't that far away from his Beth store and the New Jerseyians or New Yorkers or better yet don't they have customers or people who need their kind of food in Orefield?? You didn't answer, WHO WON??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-38928290549911869262010-11-30T13:58:08.330-05:002010-11-30T13:58:08.330-05:00Who really cares, you build a house on a hill look...Who really cares, you build a house on a hill looking at a busy farmers market THEN you decide the market should go... Why don't you people go back to new jersey or new York where you came from and leave us bethlemites aloneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-64923998880516771052010-11-30T11:56:54.705-05:002010-11-30T11:56:54.705-05:00To Anonymous who calls the neighborhood people &qu...To Anonymous who calls the neighborhood people "NIMBYS", <br /><br />at least they stopped them from becoming a Distribution Center and storing anything other than what can be sold and needed in THAT store only (not his other stores) and no DELIVERY AND DISTRIBUTION TO RESTAURANTS AND CUSTOMERS. So now he'll pay big bucks to construct a very LARGE warehouse and TRUCK DEPOT but can't EVER increase his retail area and make more money delivering products to anyone outside of that store which was the reason for the addition in the first place according to George Azar. Only the two trucks that he owns today allowed to park on property (what happens when they get old and die), no idling at all and no trash pickup before 8am and all utilities on other side of building. So you tell me, WHO WON?? ENFORCEMENT will be next and I'll bet they will APPEAL APPEAL APPEAL!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-25116135028346126162010-11-30T11:36:29.006-05:002010-11-30T11:36:29.006-05:00Posted at 3 AM?? Bernie, when do you sleep? Your...Posted at 3 AM?? Bernie, when do you sleep? Your health is important, and adequate, regular sleep is one requirement for good health. We do not want anything adverse to happen to you.<br /><br />Now, about this Elias Market controversy, it seems to me that the market was there before the houses, some of which were built on land that used to be part of the orchard. If one buys a house next to a market, is it really appropriate to start a movement aimed at complaining about the normal activities of the market? Just askin' CateAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-57655865350531074982010-11-30T06:46:25.954-05:002010-11-30T06:46:25.954-05:00Zoning was never ever intended to trap existing bu...Zoning was never ever intended to trap existing businesses in time. I find it amazing that these NIMBY's want to have that done to Elias. Those who objected to Zoning decades ago predicted these scenarios and they were right. Its amazing how something that was supposed to keep smelly air polluting industry out of neighborhoods and keep people from living in unsafe tenement housing has turned into you can not even put an addition on to a prosperous small farm market stealing of property rights. Good for Elias, shame on the neighbors for not knowing where they are living and what could be done with properties next to them and shame on the City for sending its lawyer to become involved in the charade.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-33612967282303376022010-11-30T06:45:58.494-05:002010-11-30T06:45:58.494-05:00this will certainly not be the end of this fiascothis will certainly not be the end of this fiascoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com