EASTON, Pa. — A city Zoning Hearing Board meeting regarding a planned six-story, 43-unit apartment building in Downtown Easton came to a quick close Monday.
Developers agreed to push off the meeting until January because of a release issued to neighboring properties lacking adequate information on the project.
The plan may face even more issues when it comes to parking.
The matter is set to be continued to the board’s next meeting, now scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 20.Easton Zoning Hearing Board
The matter is set to be continued to the board’s next meeting, now scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 20.
Representatives of the 74 N. 4th St. Development LLC appeared before the board — and a packed room — requesting variances for the mixed-use building.
It would feature 1,190 square feet of retail space at 70 N. 4th St.
Dozens of Downtown residents and others lined up to speak on the proposal — enough for zoning solicitor Robert Nitchkey to have the crowd who wished to comment sign up on a sheet for additional information.
But the developers never got to the point where they actually spoke about the project.
Attorney Gary Asteak, representing Kris and Vanessa Ungvarsky, who reside near the building site, successfully argued for tabling the discussion.
He cited several complaints from other neighbors who felt the notice they received “lacks the proper information to provide public notice.”
Parking a problem
Furthermore, Asteak challenged whether the city had made a commitment to provide 60 parking spaces in the Fourth Street garage for tenants of the building, and whether such a promise was legitimate.
Nitchkey agreed on the first point, advising attorney Chad DiFelice, who represented the developer, to request the continuance and provide a “more detailed advertisement,” including measurements for the structure and potential site plans.
DeFelice said he had been under the impression that a release issued to him and his clients was similar to or the same as what was advertised to the public.
“If they didn't get any details about it, I understand why everybody would be upset."Attorney Chad DeFelice
But several members of the crowd and Asteak showed him the advertisement lacked such detail.
“My inclination is I'll work with [Director of Planning and Codes] Mr. [Dwayne] Tillman to beef up the notice and email each of you a copy for your collective approval before it's run,” Nitchkey said.
DiFelice said he could understand how residents may be upset with the lack of information, though he felt confident the plan could move forward based on other recent approvals.
“If they didn't get any details about it, I understand why everybody would be upset," he said. "But it's actually probably the smallest development that has come to Easton apartments as far as multifamily recently.
"It's probably half the size of The Seville Apartments that they approved not that long ago.”
'Find more affordable housing'
DiFelice said the building would be “consistent with the area.”
He said he intended to deal with variances concerning details such as the size and the height of the project not fitting in with the aesthetics of the neighborhood and other technical issues.
“I think size-wise, it’s consistent with the buildings in the area — , maybe not the one directly next to it, but certainly the buildings in the area,” DiFelice said.
“And it's consistent with what the city is trying to do, which is find more affordable housing, and build more affordable housing.”
Tillman said the sizable turnout for the hearing likely stemmed from the size of the proposed structure, and the question of parking, which Asteak confirmed as a major issue for the neighborhood.
“I think the public parking garage was for the public; it's for the businesspeople in Easton, not to support and assist private developers making money and building skyscrapers in a historic district.”Attorney Gary Asteak
“We object to the height variance, [and are] also objecting to the city of Easton’s purported effort to sell 60 parking spaces to a private developer to allow them to get a variance," Asteak said.
"You know, it sounds like contract zoning to me, between a private developer cutting a deal with the city. I don't think the city did it. I don't think the city council or the mayor signed off on that."
A form that supposedly alluded to an agreement between the city and the developer for spaces in the Fourth Street garage had not been signed by anyone with any authority, Asteak and Nitchkey said, raising questions about how the developer could secure the needed parking for the project.
“I think the public parking garage was for the public; it's for the businesspeople in Easton, not to support and assist private developers making money and building skyscrapers in a historic district,” Asteak said.
