Bethlehem City Council Oct. 2 received a petition on behalf of Morning Star Partners LLC to amend the RT (high density residential) zoning district provisions of the city’s zoning ordinance. The subject property is located at the downtown corner of Market and New streets and comprises several separate buildings with separate addresses.

If approved as a “special exception” the owners would be able to convert the free-standing, single-family home at 2 W. Market St. to commercial use office. The petition includes requests for signage and use limits such as medicine, law, architecture, engineering, art, religion, music, insurance, real estate, psychology, account and financial services.

Currently, the financial services firm Quadrant Private Wealth operates from the building. The financial services company moved into the building June 2, 2017.

Immigrant Ernst Lehman erected the building in the 1840s. Lehman and his son Bernard manufactured trombones for the Moravian Trombone Choir in the building behind the residence.

Morningstar Partners LLC is listed as the owner of the property, according to records at Northampton County. Morning Star Partners LLC and Quadrant Private Wealth both appear to have connections to Herman L. Rij.

Bethlehem resident Bruce Haines, who is familiar with the history of this project, said that Rij is connected with Morning Star Partners and he had purchased the property on the corner of E. Market Street and N. New Street several years ago.

Haines said, “This is not the first time we have defended the neighborhood from commercial intrusion.” He described the property as a single-family home with a garage and a green building with three store fronts which at one time housed retail businesses.

A message left with Morning Star Partners LLC requesting comment was not returned by press time.

All signage would continue to be subject to the Historical Architectural Review Board and Historic Conservation Commission rules.

The proposal got immediate pushback from residents.

“I’m here to defend my neighborhood, which is under assault [by commercial interests],” said Center Street resident Barbara Diamond. “When homes become businesses, the housing stock is reduced and people flee. I hope you will support the residents. Dismiss the application to re-zone Market Street.”

Dr. Steve Diamond pursued the same goal. “City Council should not be in the business of making investors whole,” he said.

Robert Romeril, his contorted body unsteady on his aluminum-frame walker, struggled to the rostrum to defend his neighborhood. “There is no reason why you should waste a minute of your time.’

He argued that there was no need for council to consider the petition.

He told city council it should not be “changing rules to benefit a single commercial entity. When there are no neighbors, there is no neighborhood.”

Allowing the change in zoning for Morning Star Partners, would, argued Romeril, cause “residential properties to fall like dominoes.”

Haines said that the petitioner for the zoning change had, “struck out three times already.” He was referring to previous hearings and court cases that had found against Morning Star.

Councilwoman Olga Negrón said no hearing was needed. “We don’t need to schedule a meeting,” said Negrón who said she thought the idea was dreadful.

“I don’t think we should have a meeting at all on a case has been already decided in court,” she said.

Council President Adam Waldron dashed hopes that council would ignore the petition. “We are required to set a meeting,” said Waldron. “We are required by city ordinance.”

Councilwoman Dr. Paige Van Wirt sided with Negrón. “The goal was to knit this block back together again. This is an entirely self-imposed hardship. He needs to pay the price for his mistake.”

Dr. Van Wirt was referring to the owner of Morning Star Partners LLC.

She warned against the danger of setting precedence by allowing exceptions. She referenced a current suit by a billboard company.

The council voted 5-2 to schedule a hearing Nov. 20 for Morning Star Partner’s request for re-zoning.

In other business, Business Manager Eric Evans – standing in for Mayor Robert Donchez ,who was absent – described plans to revitalize the Rose Garden Park on Eighth Avenue and West Union Boulevard.

In other business city council approved mayoral appointments: Charles Krenos to the Electricians Examining Board; Peter John Mayes to the Recreation Board; Lynn Fryman Rothman to the Civil Service Board; Dr. Christine (Muncy) Haasz to the Appropriate Mental Health Services Appeals Board.

The council gave preliminary approval to a contract worth $25,000 to Charlene Donchez Mowers’ who is working as a consultant to Mayor Robert Donchez’s Bethlehem World Heritage Commission. She is, according to paperwork filed with the request, “tasked with working towards (sic) the overall goal of getting the World Heritage designation.”

The council also gave its first reading or preliminary approval for a trash removal contract to New Jersey-based company Republic Services, doing business as Raritan Valley Disposal worth $4,279,860 in a four-year contract. The vendor will have the option to renew the contract for five additional one-year terms.

Raritan Valley Disposal’s contract will be for “curbside collection of recyclables though the City of Bethlehem in a dual stream fashion.”