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Resident urges Emmaus council to appeal zoning board parking variance for 215–217 Ridge Street
Summary
During public comment a resident urged the borough to appeal a Feb. 25 zoning hearing board decision that reclassified 215–217 Ridge Street as a new multi‑family dwelling and approved a parking‑requirement variance, arguing the board lacked substantial evidence and the hardship was self‑created.
A resident addressing the Emmaus Borough Council on April 6 urged the borough to prepare an appeal of a zoning hearing board decision from Feb. 25, 2026 that treated 215 and 217 Ridge Street as a new multi‑family dwelling and granted a parking variance.
The appellant told council that neither the zoning hearing board nor the applicant agreed on whether the project was a conversion or a new multi‑family development, and that the board shifted the classification to a new multi‑family use, thereby increasing the required off‑street parking from one per living space to two. "In approving the parking variance the zoning hearing board failed to require the applicant to meet this high burden," the resident said, arguing the board offered no substantial evidence that off‑street parking could not be provided.
The resident said he had since consulted an engineering firm and an excavation contractor who confirmed off‑street parking could be provided for the properties and asserted that the asserted hardship appeared self‑created because restoring the houses to single‑family use would not trigger the expanded parking requirement.
Council members and staff clarified the limits of municipal action during the public exchange: the zoning hearing board issues a written decision (the appellant cited a 45‑day issuance rule), and any appeal of a board decision must be filed in Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas according to the borough’s procedures. The resident asked the council to consider pursuing an appeal when the zoning hearing board’s written decision is issued.
No formal council action to file an appeal was recorded that evening; council members and the solicitor advised waiting until the written decision is produced and the borough solicitor reviews options and timelines.
