Commission grants conditional preliminary approval for 635 East Turner apartment project amid neighborhood concerns

The Allentown City Planning Commission on Sept. 16 granted preliminary conditional approval for the East Side apartment project at 635 East Turner Street, a proposed development of seven apartment buildings on roughly 16.8 acres, subject to multiple plan revisions, outside‑agency reviews and conditions included in the city staff report.

Planning staff summarized the project as a preliminary‑final resubmission following earlier meetings in March and April 2025. The current plan proposes Buildings 1–5 as two‑and‑a‑half stories with 30 units each, Building 6 as two‑and‑a‑half stories with 20 units, and Building 7 as three stories with 10 units plus the sales office — together proposed parking for 293 cars, internal drives, pedestrian walks, and landscape and exterior lighting. Staff said the proposal is consistent with the housing element of Vision 2030 but noted many review comments remain outstanding. Staff read two emailed public comments opposing the project based on neighborhood character, traffic and school capacity.

The applicant’s…