Bethlehem City Council Meeting - August 19, 2025

The Bethlehem City Council met on August 19, 2025, at Town Hall. The meeting included the pledge of allegiance, roll call (all members present), approval of minutes from August 5, 2025, public comments, discussion of new and old business, and votes on ordinances and resolutions. Key topics included concerns over residential development, the proposed Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) update, the Martin Tower site, water utility apps, and a seven-story building in the historic district.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Rebecca Young spoke about a plumber and daycare issues, alleging illegal activities and lack of inspections. She urged council to read her documentation.
• Nicole Bonzik (8th Avenue resident) opposed a developer’s plan to demolish a ranch home and build a three-story, six-unit apartment building next to her property. She cited concerns about lot coverage, proximity, tree destruction (a 150-year-old willow), flood risk, and traffic. She noted the project is on the zoning hearing board agenda for August 27.
• Mark Will Weber (Citizens Advocate for Water and Sewer) advocated for implementing water usage apps like Aquahawk, noting that other cities use them to save water and prevent high bills. He stated that 20,000 of 37,000 meters have been converted to smart meters.
• Diana Rodriguez (315 Frau Street) expressed concern about overdevelopment and environmental impact, especially on the West Side. She criticized the trend of demolishing homes for apartments that are not affordable, citing the Armory redevelopment as an example. She urged council to strengthen the SALDO to require environmental protections.
• Artie Curtola (813 Loffer Street) complained about a lack of freedom of speech at ArtsQuest and suggested improving the council chamber layout. He also mentioned winning a court case against a police officer.
• Harry Faber commented on the genocide in Gaza, criticized law enforcement selectivity, and praised the climate action plan but argued profit motive hinders water app implementation.
• Tim Porcelli (8th Avenue) supported Nicole Bonzik, worried about traffic, quality of life, and loss of single-family homes.
• Terry Klober (345 Grandview Boulevard) urged Nicole to keep fighting, discussed her own fight against the Bennett's lot development, and criticized the My Bethlehem app for providing incorrect responses.
• Bill Shire (1898 Avenue) recited the Scout pledge, commented on the need for scrutiny of planning commission nominees, and criticized the design of new medical buildings and public sculpture.
• Stephen Antalics (737 Ridge) criticized council leadership, calling it a “new low,” and suggested a vote of confidence for the council president.
• Bud Hackett expressed concerns that the SALDO updates will raise housing costs and questioned the climate benefits.
• Valerie Noonan noted difficulty accessing the existing SALDO online due to broken links and suggested better transparency.
• Additional comments from residents on SALDO and other matters.

Discussion Items

• Martin Tower Site: Councilman Callahan urged the administration to engage the developer to move forward with residential development (currently zoned for 1,085 units, but developer sought 1,700 units and a LERTA tax abatement). He argued that adding units there would relieve pressure on neighborhoods. Councilwoman Laird asked if council could reach out to the developer. The administration stated they communicate regularly but the developer has not presented a new residential plan.
• Seven-Story Building in Historic District: Callahan expressed opposition to a proposed seven-story building in the Historic District (HARB area), noting that HARB members are against it. The administration acknowledged the project is in design review and encouraged the developer to consider stepbacks and architectural features.
• Water Utility Apps: Councilwoman Laird asked about the status of smart meters (20,000 out of 37,000 installed) and the possibility of implementing a consumer-facing app. Director Boscola said they are evaluating platforms, with startup costs around $100,000 and ongoing costs under $100,000 per year. He indicated a goal to include funding in the next budget.
• My Bethlehem App: Residents reported receiving incorrect responses. The administration explained the app routes requests to departments, but direct answers are not always provided. Council encouraged follow-up with the police chief.
• SALDO Update: The council discussed the proposed SALDO, which includes environmental provisions. Councilwoman Laird raised questions about enforcement, tree protection, and incentives. The council voted 7-0 to postpone final passage to the September 2, 2025 meeting, to allow more time for questions and public input.
• Development Trends: Councilwoman Crampsy Smith expressed concern about the trend of demolishing single-family homes for rental apartments, which she said are not affordable. She asked about the administration’s vision. The administration noted the need for more housing supply and cited the Opening Doors plan and affordable housing projects like the Gateway project (120 units, two-thirds affordable) and the Choice Neighborhoods project.
• Encampments: Crampsy Smith and Leon discussed the homeless encampment along the canal, asking about services and early opening of the shelter. The administration said they are working with service providers and that the shelter is limited by zoning conditions. No immediate plans to open early.

Key Outcomes

• Approved Minutes: Minutes from August 5, 2025, were approved without objection.
• SALDO Postponed: The final reading of Bill 39-2025 (SALDO) was postponed to September 2, 2025, by a vote of 7-0.
• Passed Ordinances and Resolutions (all passed 7-0):
  • Bill 40-2025: Amending the general fund budget for 2025.
  • Bill 41-2025: Amending the non-utility capital fund budget for 2025.
  • Resolution 10A: Authorizing a change order with Great Western Services Inc. (increase of $128,253 for trench restoration).
  • Resolution 10B: Transferring $85,000 for West Fourth Street sidewalk improvements.
  • Resolution 10C: Approving a use permit for ArtsQuest’s Octoberfest (October 3-5 and 10-12, 2025).
  • Resolution 10D: Adopting Palmer Township’s Act 537 sewage plan update, redirecting flow from 165 residential units to Bethlehem’s treatment plant.
  • Resolution 10E: Authorizing a grant application for Getter Street sidewalk and ADA ramp improvements ($340,625).
• Next Steps: The SALDO will be discussed further at the September 2, 2025 council meeting. The zoning hearing board will hear the 8th Avenue project on August 27, 2025. The administration will follow up on broken links on the city website and water app implementation details.