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Votes at a glance: Zoning board reaffirms RCI Village extension, approves small-variance request
Summary
At its April 28 session the Allentown City Zoning Hearing Board reaffirmed a prior order for RCI Village Properties to allow another year to start an approved project and approved a requested variance for an appellant who appeared pro se; both measures carried by unanimous vote.
The Allentown City Zoning Hearing Board on April 28 recorded three brief, formal outcomes before moving to a longer hearing on a separate property.
- Case: Appeal/extension for RCI Village Properties (1539—1551 Chew Street). The board concluded that the notice for the item misstated the relief and that the applicant sought only a time extension of a prior, May 15, 2024 order. After hearing that there had been no substantial changes to the premises or immediate neighborhood, the board reaffirmed the prior decision, effectively granting another 12 months for the project to begin. The board acknowledged concerns from objectors about notice and the ordinance—s lack of an explicit extension procedure, but members said the body has historically issued the same decision when no substantial change is shown. Motion carried unanimously.
- Case: Special-use/variance for Rashid Santiago, Hidden Talent Enterprises LLC (43 S. 17th Street). The appellant appeared pro se. The board reviewed a dimensional-variance request (lot width) and testimony indicating the relief sought was a minor dimensional variance rather than a change of character for the neighborhood. The board found the request met the standards for a dimensional variance and voted to approve the requested variance. Motion carried unanimously; the board recorded a standard approval and dismissed the matter.
Votes were recorded as unanimous among the three-member board (Chair Robert Knauer; members Samantha McLean and Steve Davies). The board emphasized that, when a future proposal would change intensity or require more review (for example, in the RCI Village matter if a new definition of "community center" is adopted by council), affected parties would have an opportunity to be heard at the appropriate forum, including a City Council public hearing scheduled June 4 for related definition changes.
