ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A rezoning proposal that would clear the way for an apartment and commercial/retail project in Bethlehem was reviewed Thursday by Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.
The applicant, Bethlehem Property Group, proposes rezoning parcels at 11 and 15 W. Garrison St. from High Density Residential Zoning District to Central Business District.
The rezoning is intended to allow a five-story building with 70 apartment units on the upper floors and commercial/retail space on the ground floor at North New and West Garrison streets.
In addition to the West Garrison Street properties, the applicant also owns adjacent parcels along North New Street from North Street to Garrison Street.
The rezoning proposal plan was reviewed during a staff review of the LVPC’s Comprehensive Planning Committee on Tuesday.
Child care center project gets a nod
LVPC also reviewed a plan for a child care center and gymnasium in Salisbury Township.
The 25,800-square-foot education center and gymnasium would be at 1031 Flexer Ave.
The center would be named in memory Monsignor John P. Murphy, Pastor Emeritus of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Allentown, who died in December 2023 at age 86.
The 1031 Flexer Ave. location also includes the St. Thomas More Church campus and preschool, Louise Lane Park, sports club and multiple single-family detached properties.
An existing chapel with parking would be redeveloped.
The LVPC recommends that educational institutions such as the proposed child care center incorporate environmentally sensitive building and landscape design, such as green roofs or solar panels.
Accessory housing in Easton
A proposal by Easton to amend parts of its zoning code to address the regionwide housing shortage was approved.
The city is taking a proactive approach in addressing the shortage by including accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, as permitted by right of use in the College Hill, South Side and West Ward areas.
If approved, the proposal would expand the Adaptive Reuse Zoning and Entertainment Zoning districts.
Emmaus zoning update approved
LVPC also approved a request by Emmaus to update its zoning ordinance to address its housing shortage.
According to the Lehigh Valley Housing Dashboard, Emmaus has a current shortage of 169 units.
An additional 230 units would be needed by 2050 to keep up with anticipated population growth.
The housing types, development flexibility and densities allowed in the proposed zoning ordinance would help mitigate housing pressures within the borough.
Housing supply, strategy reviewed
The continuing Lehigh Valley Housing Supply and Availability Strategy was reviewed by the LVPC.
The first of the three-event project was held Feb. 5 at DeSales University.
At that session, it was revealed the Greater Lehigh Valley has a 9,000-unit housing shortage and will need 54,000 more units by 2050 to accommodate population growth.
The three-hour forum consisted of experts in housing, real estate, banks and lenders, as well as LVPC representatives offering possible solutions to the housing crisis across all income levels.
The second event will be a Technical Assistance Panel, or TAP, on March 27-28.
The concluding workshop is scheduled for 8-11 a.m. June 23 at DeSales.
Funded by Lehigh County, the study is co-sponsored by Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and the Urban Land Institute of Philadelphia.
New LVPC member
Crystal Rose, a member of Easton City Council, was introduced as a new LVPC commissioner.
