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Planning commission grants conditional approval for 51 North Front Street RS Residences
Summary
The Allentown Planning Commission granted conditional preliminary/final approval May 12 for a revised 7‑story mixed‑use building at 51 North Front Street with 210 apartments, revised parking and facade changes, subject to staff conditions including trail coordination, parking and approved elevations dated April 9, 2026.
The Allentown City Planning Commission voted May 12 to grant conditional preliminary/final approval for the RS Residences, a seven‑story mixed‑use building proposed at 51 North Front Street. Planning staff had presented the revised submission and recommended conditions tying approval to the city comment letter and the building elevations dated April 9, 2026.
Planning staff described the latest revision as a 210‑unit residential building with a mix of unit types (43 studios, 115 one‑bedroom, 47 two‑bedroom and five three‑bedroom units) and 271 interior parking spaces, reduced from an earlier 286 but still exceeding the code minimum. Staff noted updated floor plans, an improved parking layout, new lighting, off‑street loading and long‑term bike storage on the plans, and revisions to the south façade to add windows and more active street frontage.
"Staff suggests the commission inquire about the applicant's coordination with the Cohesion Network and the Riverfront Civic Association, as well as the affordability of the proposed apartments," the planning presenter told the commission, urging the applicant to address screening for the garage and the potential for on‑street parking and trail connections.
Applicant representative Carlos presented renderings showing a ground‑floor 4,500‑square‑foot flexible retail area, a two‑node parking design and a punch‑window treatment on the garage level intended to reduce headlight glare. He said a trail extension was feasible in the design but that some off‑site easements (including PPL property and the American on Wheels parcel) would need separate agreements.
Commissioners questioned whether the proposed garage screening would prevent headlight glare, how retail customers would access parking, and whether Riverside Drive might be restriped to provide on‑street parking to support ground‑floor businesses. The commission also asked staff to confirm whether the traffic impact study included nearby intersections and to require the applicant to identify any public‑dedicated parking spaces on the ground floor.
Following that discussion, Commissioner 10 moved to grant conditional preliminary/final approval subject to the conditions recited by staff, Commissioner 16 seconded, and the motion carried by voice vote.
The approval is conditioned on the applicant addressing comments in the city comment letter; showing the building elevations dated 04/09/2026 as the approved elevations; coordinating trail connections and parking plans with relevant agencies (including PPL and parks); evaluating the feasibility of restriping Riverside Drive for on‑street parking; and returning to the commission if any significant elevation changes are proposed.
Next steps: the applicant will proceed under the conditions laid out by staff and the commission; any significant changes to the approved elevations will require a return to the Planning Commission for review.
