Just two items were on the Zoning Hearing Board’s Jan. 8 agenda, yet the meeting lasted nearly five hours only to be continued to the following Monday.

At the start of the meeting, officers were chosen. William Fitzpatrick was named chairman, and James Schantz was named vice chairman. Craig Pfeiffer was named board secretary. Erick Schock was named board attorney, and alternates were also named. Jean Genova will continue as the stenographer.

The first hearing was for 830 13th Ave. Part of a small industrial park, the property is bordered to the north by the Monocacy Creek, and by Route 378 to the south. Attiyeh was proposing an apartment building, with 67 units, and 67 parking spots, for recent college graduates. The variance request was for parking pace locations and number of spaces.

Three attorneys, including John DiPasqusquale, Esquire, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, represented the opposition. Owners of neighboring properties, including Paul Salamone, property manager of 864 13th Ave., and Paul Greenblatt, a member of Franchesca Associates, LLC, which owns 850 and 870 13th Ave., spoke in opposition to the project. Both expressed fears that increased residential vehicle and foot traffic, and cars possibly overflow parking amidst an area where numerous large trucks maneuver and unload, would create a public safety hazard.

A civil engineer, Michael Sodl, was called by the opposition to discuss the features of the roads involved, and their condition.

Following the opposition’s testimony, attorney Jim Preston, who represented Attiyeh, asked for a short break while he located his client. Once Attiyeh returned, Preston led him through rebuttal questions. Then the attorneys for each side gave their closing arguments.

After a lengthy closed session, the board returned with its decision. 40 apartments, single occupancy, were approved. The 67 parking spaces were accepted, to serve the 40 units. Attiyeh was visibly pleased by the decision.

The second appeal was a continuation of the appeal for a zoning variance for the property at 2 W. Market St. Attorneys Matt Deschler, for the city, and attorney Jim Preston represented the opposition. Deschler called two witnesses, Planning Director Darlene Heller, and Civil Engineer Mark Bonnick. attorney Tim Steven’s, represented the property owners, and he objected to several of Deschler’s questions for Bonnick.

When the opposition testimony concluded, the board asked attorney Steven’s how much time he would need for cross examination. He replied “at least an hour.” The board paused to conference, and in a short time, they agreed to continue the hearing to Jan. 13th.