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Board approves special exception for one‑chair barbershop at 1434–1436 Liberty Street
Summary
The Allentown Zoning Hearing Board granted a special exception allowing a single‑chair barbershop to operate inside an existing commercial/warehouse building at 1434–1436 Liberty Street, subject to customary permits and the operation as testified.
The Allentown City Zoning Hearing Board granted a special exception for a one‑chair barbershop at 1434–1436 Liberty Street after finding the proposed use would not create the negative impacts that would warrant denial.
Mirna Jano, who testified she would operate the shop, told the board the barbershop would be a single‑operator service and "you could only accommodate one customer at a time." She testified to hours of operation of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on five days per week and estimated limited short‑term customer waiting. The building owner and the applicant represented that the site provides substantial on‑site parking inside a gated area and that the portion to be used already has an office configuration with restrooms; the applicant said retrofit work would be limited to finishes and minor interior changes.
Board members reviewed the special‑exception standards, asked whether the proposed use would create traffic, health or safety hazards, and found no evidence of such impacts. One member noted an existing barbershop is located nearby and that surrounding uses include commercial buildings and row homes; staff confirmed parking and access were sufficient for the limited customer flow described.
The board approved the special exception with the conditions that the business operate as testified (days/hours and single‑operator configuration) and that the applicant obtain any required city permits and trade licenses (plumbing, electrical, barber license) prior to retrofitting or beginning full operation. The board also advised that the written decision will be issued and permits must be obtained at the city permit counter.
"There's enough parking," the applicant said during testimony, and the board recorded that staff did not identify adverse effects that would meet the ordinance standard for denial. The decision allows the business to proceed subject to the city’s permitting and licensing requirements.
No formal appeal or stay was recorded during the hearing.
