The Bethlehem City Planning meeting on Feb. 12 was a mixture of procedure and passion, drama and levity.

Van Buren Street Development LLC attorney Jim Preston brought a proposal for land development at 305 1/2 to 321 Van Buren St.

The developers are planning five townhomes and a duplex on the site, from 305 1/2 to 311. Most of their plans had already been submitted, but there was a 6-inch modification to the front yard plan for the duplex, extending it to provide sight-lines for automobiles.

The commission referred to the city’s concerns, expressed in a March 6 memo, about the potential for cars parking outside of designated space on the property.

Louis Antillo, a partner in the LLC, addressed the concerns. He accepted a request for no parking signs on the property. He also described an area of the yard the would have car access blocked by a bike rack and a tree. James Butscheski, Antillo’s partner, spoke of a neighbor’s concern that the tree would be too close to the building. The commission suggested the neighbor consult the city forester, who could best explain the root system of the tree that would be planted. The next point of contention was the strip between the driveways. The commision pointed out the city prefers the divide be filled with vegetation, i.e., grass. Antillo explained his preference for river rock, stating that in other properties they had developed, grass was easily driven over and damaged.

A motion was made to approve the plan as dated March 6, with the addition of the 6-inch lot line adjustment. The motion was seconded and approved.

The next request was for a zoning change for the property at 2105 Creek Road. The property is at the southern edge of Bethlehem city. The other side of Creek Road is Hellertown. The property is owned by Abraham Atiyeh. He was not present at the meeting. Priya Atiyeh, who is the vice president of Manors of the Valley (several area senior or assisted living campuses, including Saucon Valley Manor), presented their plan for the site. She utilized the large screen above and behind the commision members’ seats. The commission noted that their decision would be a recommendation to city coucil, either for approval or denial of the zoning change request. Chairman Molesky also address the screen’s connection and picture quality issues, inquiring of Darlene Heller about a requested hdmi cord.

Priya Atiyeh described a senior living building with 40 living units, half of them singles, and half two bedroom units. She described the property as highly desirable, with proximity to the Bethlehem Greenway and to Hellertown, with existing walking paths around the property. Residents would be average age 70 to 75, and would have access to a small clubhouse and a part time clinic in small existing buildings on the property.

Gene Berg, of Gauch Architects, spoke to specific conditions of the proposed development and the land itself. Much of the property is comprised of a flood plain and flood way for the Saucon Creek. He described the large building as a four story peaked roof unit being constructed adjacent to the floodplain and flood way. The driveway would be on Creek Road, close to Friedensville Road. The building would have a 60-car parking lot for residents, employees and visitors.

The comission asked about the potential widening of Creek Road. Atiyeh’s plan does not include widening the road.

Bill Erdman of Keystone Engineers spoke of the design of the building and lot as covering only three percent of the property, compared to the 25 percent coverage allowed by RRC zoning. He also said the building and parking lot would be above the 100-year flood zone. He said drainage analysis and other analysis would be costly, and would be performed if the zoning change was approved.

Darlene Heller described numerous letters and a petition submitted to the zoning office, lobbying against changing the zoning. Some of the issues raised in the letters, including one from the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, expressed concerns about the safety and integrity of the flood plain, and potential difficulties with emergency responders access to the property and residents during flooding.

Then the public was given the opportunity to speak. Mike Topping, who described himself as a former Planning Comission member, showed photos of flooding in the flood way, saying it has flooded five times in 20 years. “Any development will have an adverse effect on all properties downstream,” he said.

Robert Ashford echoed Topping’s sentiments, saying the proposed development would cause harm to existing owners.

Jane Cook read a letter from the board of the Monacacy Creek Watershed, which spoke of the land’s value as a wetland, and urged against a change in the site’s zoning.

Further comments addressed the presence of bald eagles, herons and osprey on the property; a question of how the development would change traffic patterns and negatively impact pedestrians and bicyclists; and the status of Saucon Creek as a Class A trout stream.

The commission then voted, with four against the zoning change, and one in favor. The yes vote came from Mr. Barker, who said he visited the site, and thought the proposed development had great value for the retirees of Bethlhem Steel Corp.

The commissions no vote will go to city council.

The final item on the agenda was SALDO. Among the items highlighted were the removal of the word “variance” from zoning requests, in favor of “waiver” or “modification,” as well as making the city more pedestrian and bicyclist friendly. Discussions will be had with LANTA about having its buses enter local shopping centers for centers it does not bring its buses to, such as the Westgate Mall.

Minor subdivisions will be handled administratively, while major subdivisions will still go through the planning comission.

Chairman Melosky had the final word, requesting hdmi and wireless connections for the rotunda.