Bethlehem City Council approved the 2019 municipal budget Dec. 18. The budget of $78 million was passed unanimously.

Under the budget, council set the millage rate for Northampton County residents at 8.61 mils; the rate for Lehigh County residents was set at 2.72 mils.

In other business, council members split 4–3, but approved the amendment to the zoning ordinance to further define the uses suitable for corner commercial lots in high density residential (RT) and medium density residential (RG) zoning districts.

The amendment ensures that the property at 2 W. Market St. can continue to operate as a business. Quadrant Private Wealth Management, a financial services firm, is the owner occupant.

As in the first reading, or preliminary approval vote taken weeks ago, council members’ votes remained unchanged. Olga Negròn, Dr. Paige Van Wirt and Michael Colon voted against the amendment.

In pre-vote statements, supporters and opponents got a last chance to make their arguments or express their opinions.

Quadrant Private Wealth Management’s spokesperson founding partner Kori Lannon, said, “We truly believe that an amendment that encourages this kind of stewardship of investment in awkward properties such as the mixed-use parcel at 2 West Market is good for the property, good for the neighborhood, good for Historic Bethlehem, and good for the city. We thank our many, many supporters for their outpouring of vocal and documented support. Thank you again for your realistic and level-headed consideration of this matter.”

With little hope of seeing the amendment defeated, passion remained high for opponents of the amendment. They took turns decrying the measure, saying they feared that the change will lead to increased businesses being opened in former residential homes.

Center Street resident Barbara Diamond summed up the feelings of the opponents of the new law. “It is a sad day when you realize that your city is poised to take improper action that risks tarnishing its reputation. We now have a situation that clearly appears to be an outsize and highly irregular effort by the city to benefit a well-connected friend of city officials. In other words, you are on the verge of taking official action that benefits one individual without even conducting due diligence to determine whether it is in the best interest of the city.”

In a post-meeting interview, Diamond, who said she is a plaintiff in the case, said opponents of the zoning change have not yet decided if they will take further action seeking to overturn council’s decision.

However, attorney Tim Stevens, who represents Diamond and others, is confident that they would win in a court. He sent a letter to council attorney John Spirk Jr. outlining the reasons why the newly amended zoning ordinance will be overturned by a court. Among the reasons is his view that the newly approved provision amounts to illegal spot zoning.

Stevens also argued that the new amendment violates the spirit of the Bethlehem Comprehensive Plan because it will tend to diminish the housing stock in the city. He also said it is subject to being overturned because “it is irrational, discriminatory, and violates due process.”

In other business, the council appointed Julie C. Zumas and Sharon A. Yoshida to the Bethlehem Areas Public Library Board.

Council also approved a request to sell the pistols used by three retiring officers to those officers.