Bethlehem holds public hearing on comprehensive SALDO update; council schedules readings, takes related votes

Bethlehem City Council on July 10 held a public hearing on a comprehensive update to the city's subdivision and land development ordinance, commonly called the SALDO, hearing detailed presentations from planning staff and public comment. No vote was taken at the hearing; the administration said the proposed ordinance will return to council for two readings beginning August 5.

The SALDO hearing matters because the current ordinance dates to 1975 and the proposed rewrite clarifies submission procedures, codifies climate and complete-streets practices, adds design standards for certain commercial and mixed-use zones, and formally brings Lehigh Valley Planning Commission reviews, the Bethlehem Environmental Advisory Council and LANTA transit review into the plan-review process.

Laura Collins, director of community and economic development, introduced the presentation and said the administration was "presenting a few revisions and updates to the subdivision and land development ordinance, which we will refer to as the SALDO." Planning Director Kathy Fletcher described the goals: "we really wanted it to reflect the current SALDO standards per the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code," and to align the SALDO with the city's comprehensive plan and climate action objectives.

What staff described

- Scope and process: City staff and consultants told council the SALDO governs procedural and technical standards for subdivisions and land development: plan submission requirements, recording, streets and utilities design, sidewalks, street trees, lighting, stormwater, and the city's review and inspection steps. The SALDO does not set zoning uses, density or facade…