Allentown zoning board approves conversion of 211 E. Lexington to a place of worship, with conditions

The Allentown Zoning Hearing Board on March 17 approved a special exception allowing CityFlip LLC to convert 211 East Lexington Street into a place of worship, conditioned on striping and improving on-site parking, conducting activities as testified, and obtaining all required permits and code upgrades.

Board members heard testimony from an appellant witness and reviewed two exhibits before moving to approval. Attorney Frank Trovato appeared on behalf of the appellant. Under oath the witness (identified in the record variously as Marius Dade and as Mario Stead) described the building as roughly 2,200 square feet and said the congregation normally numbers about 20–35 people, with typical worship hours Sunday mornings from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., Sunday evenings roughly 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and a Wednesday prayer hour of about 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The witness said the congregation would not use outdoor amplification and did not plan new signage.

The witness and attorney presented a site plan and photographs (entered as exhibits A-1 and A-2) showing on-site parking they estimated at about 18 spaces; zoning staff noted the spaces would need improvement and striping to meet the zoning ordinance requirements. The site’s most recent use was described by staff as an HVAC trade school, discontinued in 2020.

Scott Unger, a member of the Zoning Hearing Board, said the testimony addressed the special-exception criteria and that parking appeared adequate for the size of the congregation, subject to striping and code upgrades. "I would make the condition that the use be conducted as testified relative to hours of operation and types of activities," Unger said during deliberations. Samantha McLean, also a board member, concurred that the evidence showed the use would not create significant traffic or public-safety impacts. Unger moved to approve the special exception with the stated conditions; McLean seconded. The board voted in favor; the decision was announced as approved subject to the conditions. The chair said the applicant will receive a written decision and may obtain permits once the conditions are met.

No objectors testified at the hearing. The board admitted the appellant’s exhibits into evidence and limited the approval to the activities and hours described in testimony and to meeting all applicable code and permit requirements.

The written decision will list the conditions the applicant must satisfy before a zoning permit is issued.