117-room Hilton hotel proposed for Bethlehem
A new 117-room Hilton hotel is planned for Bethlehem’s Schoenersville Road corridor.
By Sara K. Satullo | For lehighvalleylive.com
The Bethlehem Planning Commission on Thursday approved land development plans for a four-story Home2 Suites by Hilton at 2011 City Line Road.
The commission voted 4-0 to approve the project with little discussion. Member Joy Cohen recused herself due to a personal conflict.
The Bethlehem Planning Commission on Thursday approved land development plans for a four-story Home2 Suites by Hilton at 2011 City Line Road.
The commission voted 4-0 to approve the project with little discussion. Member Joy Cohen recused herself due to a personal conflict.
The commission on Thursday also endorsed a tweak to a proposed zoning change at Martin Tower requested by owners Lewis D. Ronca and Norton Herrick. The pair have asked the city to change the 53-acre site’s zoning to allow more parking near proposed medical buildings, which they say is necessary to lock in leases.
Bethlehem City Council last month opted to amend the request to limit the parking lot design to two drive aisles and four rows of parking spaces fronting on Eighth and Eaton avenues. Councilman Michael Colon said at the time that the developers’ proposed changes did not do enough to limit the number of parking spaces that could be constructed on the Martin Tower site.
The planning commission also reviewed an informational site plan for a three-and-a-half story, 18-unit apartment building at 130 W. Goepp St. Currently, there are auto repair garages on the site, although the property is zoned for high-density residential.
Commission member Matthew Malozzi said the project has a lot of favorable points. It brings a non-conforming zoning use in line with the surrounding neighborhood.
“This is what we want here,” he said.
The commission voted unanimously to endorse a letter from the city planning department with suggestions for the apartments’ developer Robert Smith. The majority of the planning department’s comments focused on they layout of the parking lots and entrances and exits of the proposed project.
It will have to return to the commission for land development approval.
