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Planner outlines multi-municipal zoning update and public-review timetable for Northampton
Summary
An environmental planner told Borough of Northampton council members the borough’s zoning ordinance is being updated as part of a five-municipality effort; a 45‑day regional review and local public hearings are planned for early 2026, with each municipality adopting changes separately.
Caroline (Carolyn) Hiegal, of Environmental Planning and Design, told the Borough of Northampton council that the borough is participating in a five‑municipality zoning ordinance update tied to a multi‑municipal comprehensive plan.
Hiegal said the update will retain a distinct borough ordinance while coordinating land‑use categories and mapping across Northampton, North Catasauqua, Catasauqua, East Allen and Hanover townships. "This effort is part of a zoning ordinance update... the borough has been part of a multi municipal planning effort stemming from the comprehensive plan," she said. She described shared land‑use approaches intended to complement neighborhood and business-area investments.
Council members asked about timing and the public process; Hiegal said the draft will go to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) for a 45‑day review followed by a local public-review period and that the borough hopes to hold public hearings in early 2026. "The document will go into effect upon the last municipality having its adoption," she said, stressing that each municipality will adopt the ordinance individually.
The presentation also noted that some zoning details outside district mapping — such as setbacks and fences — will be addressed in subsequent ordinance sections and internal presentations. Council scheduled an internal presentation on the zoning ordinance's other changes for its Dec. 4 meeting, after which the ordinance would go to LVPC for review.
Council members and staff asked for follow‑up on procedural advertising, hearing scheduling and the sequencing of internal presentations. Hiegal invited questions and said staff will coordinate timing with the borough solicitor to ensure compliance with municipal planning code requirements.
Next steps: the council expects an internal presentation on Dec. 4 and a public-review sequence tied to the LVPC's 45‑day window; final adoption requires a borough public hearing and a council vote after the review period is complete.
