HARB Troubled by Mysterious Box on Main Street

The Bethlehem Historic and Architectural Review Board on Wednesday publicly expressed unhappiness with the Bethlehem Parking Authority and a new piece of technology it has placed in front of the

“At the last neighborhood association meeting, I had two or three people ask me: What is that thing? Why is it there? Who gave permission?” said board member Nancy Shelly, who raised the issue during Wednesday’s meeting.

The mysterious box near the south end of Main Street is in fact a parking kiosk, a station where motorists can pay to use the back in, angled parking in front of the bookstore. It was put there to replace traditional parking meters, which were removed.

Instead of feeding a meter, those parking are expected to pay for a specified amount of time -- using coins, cash or credit cards -- collect a receipt ticket from the new device and display it in the vehicle’s windshield.

The purpose of the device was lost on those at the members of the HARB board, who are charged with protecting the historic aesthetics of Main Street and the surrounding Central Historic District. Board Chairman Fred Bonsall described it as a device where someone can pay parking ticket fines.

“When I saw it, I thought it was an ATM,” said Phil Roeder, a city building inspector and a HARB liaison.

“I don’t think it belongs there,” Shelly said. “If it has to be on Main Street, I would rather see it over at the end of where it more commercial rather than where it is more historic.”

Actually, there are two that provide similar oversight to parking spaces in the surface lot adjacent to the Shoppes at Main Street Commons. These devices also replaced parking meters that were removed.

The board members all seemed to agree with Shelly, however. Bonsall asked to have this concern placed in the board’s minutes to gain City Council’s attention.

“We don’t think it’s appropriate,” he said.