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Zoning board approves Abduche Properties conversion and parking/lot-area variances at S. 5th Street with conditions
Summary
The Allentown Zoning Hearing Board approved variances allowing Abduche Properties to convert existing structures at 1935–1949 S. 5th Street into additional apartments, finding the relief to be the minimum necessary and subjecting the approval to planning commission recommendations and a city inspection before final certificate of occupancy.
The Allentown Zoning Hearing Board on Oct. 27 approved Abduche Properties’ appeal and special-use/variance request to convert existing buildings at 1935–1949 S. 5th Street and to add dwelling units, granting lot-area-per-dwelling-unit and parking variances subject to agreed conditions.
Architect Stuart Galk testified that a survey-based recalculation shows the parcel measures 36,574 square feet, approximately 6,152 square feet larger than previously recorded — a roughly 20% increase in lot area. That change reduced the lot-area variance the applicant needs from the previously cited figure; the revised calculations were presented to the board and entered as exhibits.
Owner Ryan Abduche explained the proposal would add units to an existing property with 17 occupied units and that under the city’s newer parking standard the site would meet a 1-space-per-unit standard (29 on-site spaces). The applicant proposed landscaping, marked pedestrian walkways, window coordination and aesthetic pilasters to match adjacent buildings, and small on-site amenities such as picnic seating and bicycle racks.
A nearby resident, Linda Steely of 1959 S. 5th Street, objected at the hearing, saying neighborhood events and nearby businesses sometimes reduce neighborhood parking availability and raising concerns about property maintenance and trash on the site. City staff told the board that the planning commission’s recommendations had been incorporated into the applicant’s revised plans.
Board members said the use is permitted by special exception subject to conditions and that the proposed variances represent the minimum relief necessary to allow reasonable reuse of the existing buildings without adding new structures. The board added conditions including adherence to the planning commission’s recommendations (landscaping, window alignment, pilasters, paint), hash-marked walkways as requested by planners, and a requirement that the city inspect landscaping and site improvements before issuing the final certificate of occupancy; the board noted flexibility if winter planting requires a temporary certificate of occupancy with subsequent seasonal compliance.
A motion to approve the variances and special-use application as testified, subject to the stated conditions and code compliance, was seconded and passed by the board.
