I will call to order the community development committee meeting.

I am Hilary Quietek, Chair of the Community Development Committee.

The other committee members present are Justin Amon and Joe Daniels.

No other, well, you can clearly see that President Leon is here.

However, she will be in and out tonight as she does her president's hours.

So that is it for in terms of who's here.

The clerk will please call the roll.

Ms.

Quiet Present.

Mr.

Raymond Present.

Mm-hmm.

Present.

Thank you.

There's one item on tonight's agenda the proposed amendment to zoning ordinance yard setbacks.

Just so you understand the order of operations here tonight, Ms.

Daniels will outline her amendment.

The administration will have an opportunity to share their thoughts.

Committee members will ask questions or have comments.

And then you know, if I have any questions, I'll ask them last and then we'll recognize the public for public comment.

I recognize uh Solicitor Stewart has arrived, so um we'll also count her as present.

And so we will I will recognize Ms.

Daniels to outline her proposed amendment.

Okay, I apologize, everyone.

Um I left the actual copy of the ordinance at home along with some notes, but it's a pretty thank you, Rachel.

It's a pretty straightforward.

Rachel was kind enough to share it with me.

Um the inner office memorandum, and again, apologize for missing the last committee meeting as well.

I was very ill.

Um, but moving forward, uh, the memorandum that I sent out on this ordinance was June 10th and reads as follows.

I respectfully request your support for a proposed amendment to section 1318.23 of the City of Bethlehem zoning ordinance to extend mandatory buffer yard protections to single family semi-detached dwellings, twins, and single family attached dwellings, in addition to single family detached dwellings.

This amendment seeks to correct an inequity in the current ordinance and to ensure that all residents receive equal protections from the impacts of adjacent higher intensity development, regardless of the housing type in which they reside.

Uh, a little bit of background, the city of Bethlehem recognizes several residential housing types within its zoning ordinance, single family detached dwelling, a standalone home situated on its own, single family semi-detached dwelling, otherwise known as a twin, two independently owned homes sharing a common wall, and single family attached dwellings, uh such as row homes or townhouses, which have three or more homes attached in the continuous row.

All three housing types are permitted residential uses within the RT residential district and others and other residential zoning districts throughout the city.

Yet under the current language of 1318.23, mandatory buffer yard protections are triggered only when new apartment developments abut a lot containing an existing single family dwelling.

Buffer yard uh provide physical separation, preserve access, uh create additional defensible space that can be critical during emergency situations.

Given these realities, residents of twin homes and row homes need these protections at least as much as the residents of detached single family homes.

Equity and fairness considerations.

This amendment is also a matter of equity and equal treatment under the zoning ordinance.

According to recent American community survey data, detached single family homes in Bethlehem have an average value of approximately 328,000, while attached and semi-detached homes have an average value of approximately 220,000, a difference of more than 108,000.

Attached and semi-detached homes comprise nearly 20% of Bethlehem's housing stock and represent some of the city's most affordable homeowners homeownership opportunities.

Historically, Bethlehem Twins were built to house the still workers, factory workers, and immigrant families whose labor helped build this city.

These neighborhoods remain home to many working class residents today.

Current demographic data also demonstrates that lower income households and minority residents are more likely to reside in attached and semi-detached housing than in detached single family homes.

Poverty rates among black and Hispanic residents in Bethlehem remain substantially higher than among white non-Hispanic residents and renter households face significant cost burdens.

As a result, the ordinance current the ordinance's current distinction disproportionately affects neighborhoods where lower income and minority residents are concentrated.

While the ordinance does not intentionally differentiate between residents based on income or race, the practical effect is that residents of detached homes receive mandatory protection from the impacts of adjacent apartment developments, while residents of twin homes and row homes often do not.

This results in an unequal distribution of environmental health, safety, and quality of life protections.

The current gap in the ordinance of 1318.23 states that a buffer yard shall be required in the following situation.

Six or more new apartment dwellings, dwelling units proposed abutting a lot containing an existing single family detached dwelling.

Under this provision, a proposed apartment development adjacent to a detached home triggers a mandatory 15 foot buffer yard.

However, if the same exact development is proposed adjacent to a twin or a row home, no mandatory buffer yard is required.

The difference in treatment cannot be justified by public safety concerns, environmental concerns, or neighborhood capability compatibility concerns.

If anything, the shared wall construction of twin and attached housing suggests that these residents have an equal or greater need for such protections.

So the purpose of this amendment would simply extend existing protections to additional residential housing types already recognized by the zoning ordinance.

The proposal create consistency within the zoning code, treat residents equally regardless of housing type, improve environmental and public safety protections, supports neighborhood stability and quality of life, and advances Bethlehem's commitment to fairness and equitable planning practices, preserves opportunities for responsible development while ensuring reasonable protections for existing residents.

The request for support as elected officials, we have an obligation to ensure that our ordinances serve all Bethlehem residents fairly and consistently.

The residents who live in our heart in our historic twin homes and row home neighborhoods deserve the same consideration protections afforded to residents of detached single family homes.

This amendment does not create a new standard.

It simply extends an existing protection to residents who have been unintentionally excluded from it.