Allentown holds public hearing on sweeping zoning and subdivision rewrite; environmental advisers urge adoption

Allentown City Council opened a public hearing to take testimony on two proposed ordinances — Bill 69, described in the hearing as a proposed new City of Allentown zoning ordinance and map, and Bill 70, a proposed new City of Allentown subdivision and land development ordinance. The hearing record shows the bills are scheduled to be considered for adoption immediately following the public hearing. (No formal adoption vote is recorded in the provided transcript.)

Planning Director Jennifer Gomez introduced the initiative as "Zone Allentown, forming tomorrow's city today," and identified a project team including Kirk Bishop of Duncan and Associates, Leslie Oberhauser of Codometrics, Melissa Velez (senior planner), Trevor Tormann (senior planner) and Mike Hanzo (zoning supervisor). Gomez said the regulations aim to be "context sensitive" to Allentown's traditional character, while supporting more compact, walkable neighborhoods, mixed use development, employment-friendly manufacturing uses, green and healthy development, and clearer illustrated regulations to improve predictability and transparency.

"This initiative is known as Zone Allentown, forming tomorrow's city today," Planning Director Jennifer Gomez said. The clerk read the bills into the record: "Bill 69, chapter 6 60 zoning ordinance. It repeals chapter 6 60 zoning in its entirety and adopts a new zoning ordinance and zoning map. Bill 70, chapter 3 50, subdivision and land development ordinance. It repeals the old, chapter 3 50, land development and subdivision, ordinance in its entirety and adopts a new subdivision and land development ordinance," Mike Hanlon said while reading the measures into the record.

Council leadership and staff emphasized during the hearing that the zoning and subdivision codes are "living documents" and that city staff are preparing a first round of amendments to address issues raised through implementation and the code- or map-amendment process. The transcript records that council had earlier held a special meeting on Sept. 24 at which the planning director presented the proposals and council forwarded the bills unanimously for the public hearing and possible adoption.

Kyle Ropski, speaking on behalf of Allentown's Environmental Advisory Council, urged council to adopt the ordinances and outlined several environmental and resilience provisions the council body supports, including form-based zoning and mixed-use development to reduce car dependence, expanded green infrastructure requirements (rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavement and native planting), stronger protections for floodplains and steep slopes, new tree-protection measures, and support for sustainable transportation such as expanded bike parking and EV charging. "These updates represent a significant step forward for Allentown," Ropski said on behalf of the advisory council.

No other public commenters stepped forward during the hearing. The public hearing was adjourned and council thanked staff for their work; the transcript does not record a subsequent adoption vote within the excerpt provided.

The proposed ordinances would replace existing chapters cited in the hearing and establish a new zoning code and a new subdivision and land development code. City staff indicated they expect to return with amendments and refinements as the ordinances are implemented.