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City and county discuss Greenway land amendment to allow private amenities while adding replacement green space
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Summary
County staff recommended moving forward with a city proposal to amend covenants on small parcels of the South Bethlehem Greenway to allow private patios and a hotel drop-off while adding a replacement parcel roughly three times larger; the county must approve changes because DCNR and similar grant covenants require equal-or-better replacement land for recreation use.
County parks staff and a City of Bethlehem official described a proposed land amendment to the South Bethlehem Greenway that would remove covenants from three small parcels (about 4,489 square feet total) to allow private trail-adjacent amenities — including a brewery patio, a hotel patio and a drop-off area — while adding a replacement parcel of about 13,588 square feet to the county's greenway corridor.
Brian Cope explained that county funding and state DCNR grants attach covenants requiring that any removed land be replaced with equal or larger acreage dedicated to recreation or conservation, similar to requirements under the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. "With the grant requirements from our funding and also state DCNR funding, any changes to the original acquired land has to be approved by us," Cope said, and staff recommended the amendment move forward after DCNR coordination.
Laura Collins, who identified herself as the DCD director for the City of Bethlehem, told the committee the Greenway has been advanced in phases and that the amendment would enable pedestrian-activated economic activity and improved connectivity. She said the city has developed the Greenway in seven phases and recently acquired a gap piece that helps create roughly 23–24 miles of connected trail.
Collins described plans for an urban-core plaza concept in the area near Zest — including an amphitheater and patio spaces that could connect trail users to nearby businesses — and said the replacement parcel proposed by the city is about three times the size of the parcels to be removed, thereby increasing overall greenway acreage.
Committee members thanked city staff and expressed support for county-city collaboration. No formal vote was taken at this meeting; staff will continue coordination with DCNR and bring formal amendment materials forward for committee consideration.
What happens next: Staff will continue coordinating with DCNR and prepare formal amendment documentation for future committee consideration.
