Walnut Street resident Darnell Goodman asked the Catasauqua Zoning Hearing Board to approve a parking variance for an arcade business that he proposes to open at 519 Front St.

Based on the expected use as an entertainment venue and the prior use as a retail furniture store, Goodman asked the board to approve 18 fewer parking spaces.

"Most of the people that I expect as customers aren't old enough to drive," Goodman said in his presentation.

Only 18 to 20 customers are expected in the arcade at one time, he said.

"I expect most will walk there. I walk from my house to the arcade now," he said.

Work started on the renovations to the property a couple of months ago because Goodman was unaware that he had a parking problem and would need a zoning variance.

Goodman said his business will be an updated arcade where customers buy time to play X-Box games and some specialized arcade games.

"There are three sections in the store. One would be for X-Box. I plan to have a pool table and the front room would be mechanical games," he said.

According to Goodman, pinball machines might be part of the scheme, but it is hard to find someone to fix a pinball machine when it breaks.

The board wrestled with the idea of giving such a large variance for parking.

They tried to reduce the number of required parking spots by reconfiguring the interior floor space to exclude square footage devoted to gaming devices.

The building's owner, Joanne Hasnik, explained to the board that dedicated parking space from private landowners is no longer available.

"We get into these zoning restrictions and there is nothing that I can do about the number of parking spaces available," she said.

A number of businesses have opened and just as quickly closed in the downtown business district of the borough.

The borough and the zoning board know they need to pump some life into the area, while the borough looks at its long-term solution of developing the Iron Works project on the opposite side of Front Street.

Goodman's proposed arcade is envisioned as an area where local youths can go. He commented the arcade would be under adult supervision.

As the borough looks for the correct combination of businesses to attract foot traffic to the business district, the board decided to give the arcade concept a try.

"It will keep kids busy during the summer months," hearing board member Daniel Scheirer said after the hearing.

The board granted the variance based on the hours of operation and because the location has an existing, nonconforming retail use.