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Commission approves Walnut Street infill with conditions, requires landscaping and lighting plans
Summary
The planning commission approved a minor land development at 1420 Walnut Street with conditions: add eastern-property-line landscaping (or equivalent), submit a lighting plan and address zoning-hearing-board requirements. Applicant said it will add landscaping and work with staff.
The Allentown Planning Commission conditionally approved plans for a minor infill development at 1420 Walnut Street, allowing the conversion of a rear parcel into a three-story, two-family dwelling while attaching conditions addressing landscaping, lighting and zoning hearing-board requirements.
Melissa, city planning staff, summarized the application and the staff recommendations: "Staff recommends approval of the proposed development," subject to revisions to add landscaping along the eastern property line, a lighting plan (because combined parking totals six units) and compliance with all zoning hearing board conditions.
John Coutsource, the project's engineer of record with Carroll Engineering, told commissioners the team will add the eastern landscaping requested in the comment letter and asked that building-mounted lighting be reviewed as part of the building-permit process rather than land-development review. He said the project will comply with the comment letter and that fire approval had been received on Feb. 3.
Commissioners pressed the applicant to confirm trash handling, clearance for emergency access and measures to avoid vehicle collisions entering the parking area; the applicant said trash will be contained in a wheeled dumpster rolled to the alley and that bollards and other protections will be provided. Zoning staff clarified that a zoning-hearing-board order had required landscaping along the school district property; only that board could modify that condition, though staff said a combined fence+planting approach might be reviewed administratively.
A motion to approve the project with the staff-recommended conditions passed by voice vote. The approval requires the applicant to revise plans to address staff and zoning hearing-board comments before final sign-off.
