Bethlehem council holds public hearing on rezoning for 70‑unit mixed‑use project at West Garrison Street

A public hearing Feb. 24 before the Bethlehem City Council drew neighborhood residents and the petitioner to discuss a privately proposed zoning map amendment that would change 11 and 15 West Garrison Street from high‑density residential (RT) to central business (CB) to allow a 70‑unit apartment building with ground‑floor retail.

The rezoning request was presented by Michael Oshudi of the law firm Cole Visiliades, Friends and Oshudi on behalf of BPG Investments 2 LLC; Gabe Moyer of Bethlehem Property Group LLC and project architect Vince Marucci also spoke. Assistant Planning Director Craig Pfeiffer told council staff and the Planning Commission reviewed the petition and forwarded a 5‑0 recommendation for approval to council.

Why it matters: the petitioner said adding the two West Garrison parcels to seven contiguous CB parcels would let the developer build the same number of units in a more efficient, lower building with more on‑site parking, while opponents said changing the map risks scale and parking impacts in an otherwise residential block.

Developer presentation and staff view

Attorney Michael Oshudi said the filing is a zoning map…