Brian Zettlemoyer of 27 Front St., Catasauqua, received approval from Catasauqua Borough Council to make changes to lot lines on three properties he owns on Front Street.

"What we are doing is to make more parking spaces available for the 27 Front St. property," said Zettlemoyer at council's meeting Aug. 6.

He said the property was once used as a doctor's office and is zoned commercial.

"I had it on the market for three months and only one buyer showed up. He didn't like the neighborhood," he said. Zettlemoyer proposed adding five parking spaces to the three existing spaces to enhance the property's buyer appeal.

"It could be a nice B&B or a professional's office," he said.

Borough Manager Eugene Goldfeder explained to council that businesses have parking requirements that need to be met and the requirements are based on the size of the business.

"We can't determine how many slots a business would need until the business applies for a permit," he said.

Zettlemoyer intends to add parking spaces to the property by adjusting the lot line for property he owns at 21 and 23 Front St.

Councilman Alfred Regits suggested the first amendment to the proposal.

"I think that the parking areas should be paved," he said.

The existing proposal allows Zettlemoyer to pave the entrance and turn-around areas, but leave the parking areas improved with packed gravel.

After a lengthy discussion that debated all the options and included input from Zettlemoyer, the council agreed to allow the proposal to move forward, adding a stipulation that the graveled parking areas would be paved within five years.

The lots at 21 and 23 Front St. will remain packed gravel lots.

"We increased the amount of parking available in the area. It is something that [Zettlemoyer] wasn't required to do," said Councilman Vincent Smith.

Because there were property changes, Zettlemoyer had to bring the parking areas for 21 and 23 Front St. up to code, that is, providing two spaces for each unit rather than the one that exists now.

In another unrelated land decision, council agreed to swap land along St. John and Walnut streets with the Catasauqua Area School District.

The district will take the steeply graded land behind the borough's building on the corner and the borough will take property to the right of the building.

The new property will allow the borough to expand its facilities, if needed, in the future.

Also at the meeting, loading zones were added on Tenth Street between Race Street and Bath Avenue and another along Front Street around Strawberry.

Both loading zones will be in effect during business hours and are designed to keep supply vehicles off busy thoroughfares.

Regits reported that the borough fire department's ladder fire truck is out for an overhaul.

While the vehicle is in for repairs, Fire Chief Richard Hertzog made arrangements to have the Hanover Township ladder truck on call as a backup.