Howard Lieberman, executive director of Whitehall Township Industrial & Commercial Development Authority, updated council on the status of tax abatement plans designed to assist the borough in attracting developers to the brownfield owned by the borough on Front Street at Catasauqua Council's May 5 meeting.

Lieberman and the Whitehall Authority asked the borough to participate in an intermunicipal venture to seek a state sponsored Community Revitalization and Improvement Zone.

Although the state rejected the initial application and only granted the CRIZ designation to two cities, Lieberman reported to council that bills are moving through the legislature to allow a broader definition of the tax abatement zone.

"The new bills also include a provision that allows intermunicipal cooperation, something that was denied under the previous bill," he said. There are four bills in the state House and two bills in the state Senate.

"Julie Harhart's bill is getting a lot of attention," he said.

The legislature is in recess until June 30, but Lieberman is still hopeful the new budget will contain provisions for an expanded CRIZ program.

As part of development planning, Lieberman convened a waterfront symposium to look at coordinating development efforts of municipalities along the Lehigh River.

"The symposium was a success and I was encouraged by the responses we received," he said.

A follow-up meeting is planned for the fall to review suggestions made by stakeholders and communities in Lehigh and Northampton counties.

Another tax abatement option for Catasauqua is Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance. Lieberman will present the program and its impact to the school district. Any tax abatement program must be approved by all taxing entities.

In a related move, John Giovanni, owner of Pies on Pizza, asked council to approve a liquor license for his expanded restaurant on Pine Street. The request is for a special license that can only be used by the restaurant and cannot be moved to any other location.

"We will use it only for the restaurant. I don't anticipate that we will have a full bar. It will allow us to provide alcoholic beverages with a meal," said Giovanni.

Since the new restaurant and the existing Pies on Pizza counter and dining room will not be tied together, alcoholic beverages can only be sold in the restaurant.

The borough approved selling two raw land parcels the borough owns on Pearl Street. Bids will be opened on Aug. 20. According to council President Vincent Smith, the extended bid process allows time for the property to be marketed.

Council voted unanimously to have NAI Summit assist in marketing the property.

The property was marketed earlier without assistance, but the offer received was considered too low and one bid made was rejected. Adding a professional marketing team to the mix is intended to boost the offering price.