At the forefront of last week's City Council meeting was a public hearing on establishing Bethlehem's first Revitalization and Improvement Authority, an organization to be established under the Pa. Municipality Authorities Act. The hearing, led with an introduction from Community and Economic Development Director Joseph Kelley, took place as council considered a resolution that would establish the new organization. The resolution "sets forths and approves the proposed Articles of Incorporation of the Authority and authorizes the filings with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; authorizes and directs the advertisement of a notice of adoption of the Resolution; and appoints the first members of the Board of the Bethlehem Revitalization and Improvement authority," according to council's Nov. 6 meeting agenda.

CRIZ program

In an address before council, Kelley explained that the establishment of the authority comes in the wake of the city's attempt to apply for the CRIZ program, an incentive under new state legislation passed in July as part of Pennsylvania's 2013-14 budget process. According to a recent press release from law firm Saul Ewing L.L.P., the state legislature passed a motion which allows the establishment of "City Revitalization and Improvement Zones."

Certain tax payments from businesses in the zones would be funneled back into the zones in an effort to spur development and redevelopment projects, according to the release. The legislation was modeled after an existing law that has been the catalyst for the development of a multimillion-dollar arena complex in Allentown, though the new legislation contains important differences.

While the CRIZ program allows for up to 130 acres of land development to be funded, the application is due to the state Department of Community and Economic Development by Nov. 30 and only two cities in the state will be allowed to operate as Improvement Zones under the first wave of applications.

Current progress

Kelley noted that his office is currently reviewing "potential sites" to be assessed under the CRIZ program, but that right now the Office of Community and Economic Development is evaluating land, rather than specific business or companies that Bethlehem would hope to see established as a result of the CRIZ application. Kelley did, however, make reference to the possibility that North Bethlehem would see new tech companies in the future and that he felt a "need to continue to diversify our economy here in the city."

Community reaction

Bruce Haines, a resident and managing partner of Hotel Bethlehem, spoke in support of the establishment of the Revitalization and Improvement Authority. Haines did, however, express concern over where land should be designated for use under the CRIZ program. Expressing concerns that, "Main Street has been virtually ignored in favor of Southside revitalization efforts," he asked council to consider options where he believed a "notion of office space nearby [main street] ... should be a critical consideration for this authority." Additionally, Haines expressed that "people love Main Street ... it is the crown jewel of Bethlehem," before referring to nearly $3.5 million in funds that were recently re-allocated from the historic district to the construction of a parking deck in South Bethlehem.

Other business

City Council considered the denial for a certificate of appropriateness to be issued for a garage door at 217 Broadway, under resolution 9B of the meeting's agenda.

Prior to voting on resolution 9B, Council Member Karen Dolan voiced concern that council had not received appropriate documentation from the owner of the property.

Council Member William Reynolds countered Dolan's comments citing that, although he disagreed with the Historic and Architectural Review Board originally, he felt voting in favor of the denial for a certificate of appropriateness would be impractical. Council voted 5-2 in favor of supporting the recommendation to deny a certificate of appropriateness, with William Reynolds and Mike Recchiuiti voting against the resolution.

City Council's next meeting is Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.