City Council Meets Tonight, Zoning on Agenda

Bethlehem City Council will meet at 7 p.m. tonight at Town Hall, a day earlier than what would be its regular meeting date in recognition of the Independence Day holiday.

Tonight’s meeting will include a public hearing for the purpose of receiving public comment on a new proposed , which city officials have been working on for about three years.

The city has not adopted a new comprehensive zoning ordinance since 1970, though it appears council may finally be on the verge of adopting this one. Passage is currently on track for the first August meeting.

The Bethlehem Planning Commission and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission have both given the new ordinance their stamps of approval.

Click here to see a copy of the proposed zoning law. Click here to see a copy of the proposed zoning map.

Also on the agenda is a proposed amendment to the existing zoning law that would make it illegal to build a drug and alcohol residential treatment center within 1,000 feet of a school, public park or playground, daycare center or college or university campus.

The new buffer would also apply to temporary and overnight shelters.

The bill, which has been opposed by city planning staff and the Bethlehem Planning Commission, is a reaction to developer Abraham Atiyeh’s repeated applications to build treatment centers in Bethlehem in neighborhoods by residents and city officials.

City planning officials have argued that such a law could be considered too restrictive by courts, opening the door for Atiyeh to build a center anywhere in the city.

Currently, Atiyeh plans to build a center in the former , which to this point from city officials.