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Council approves rezoning of two West Garrison parcels after neighborhood outreach; vote 5–2
Summary
Bethlehem City Council voted 5–2 to amend the zoning map for two properties on the unit block of West Garrison Street from RT (residential) to CB (central business) after developers and neighbors met for outreach; opponents warned about loss of naturally affordable rentals, traffic and precedent.
Bethlehem City Council approved a zoning map amendment that rezones two parcels on the unit block of West Garrison Street from Residential (RT) to Central Business (CB), a 5–2 roll-call decision the council recorded during its regular meeting.
Council President called for debate before the vote; members described substantial outreach undertaken after council postponed a prior vote. Councilwoman Laird and Vice President Leon summarized a community meeting arranged by neighbors and the developer to discuss the proposal and said they had distributed flyers and met residents on foot.
Proponents of the rezoning argued the change would allow a developer to build lower (five-story instead of six-story) housing and permit more on-site parking, which council supporters said would reduce on-street parking pressure in nearby streets. Councilman Callahan said permitting the change would allow a building at five stories rather than a sixth floor and would increase on-site parking, lessening spillover parking in the neighborhood.
Opponents said the proposal would remove two existing buildings that currently provide lower-cost rental housing and would change the character of the block. Council members who opposed the rezoning said demolition of habitable older homes is a worse environmental and affordability outcome than preserving them and that the council should be cautious about the precedent of spot rezoning.
The council’s solicitor addressed the spot-zoning concern during debate, saying a court challenge would likely fail because the two parcels border existing CB zoning and the proposed change would create a contiguous zoning district rather than an “island” of different zoning.
Roll call on the ordinance (Bill 20-25): Miss Kwiatak — Nay; Miss Laird — Aye; Miss Leon — Aye; Miss Wilhelm — Aye; Mr. Callahan — Aye; Miss Kramsey Smith — Nay; Mr. Colon — Aye. The ordinance passed 5–2. Council members said additional public review and technical scrutiny will follow at the land-development stage, where traffic, access and design will be reviewed.
