BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board voted Wednesday night to grant a special exception to the Fraternal Order of Police, Bethlehem Star Lodge #20, to establish a membership club in a current non-conforming restaurant.

The FOP plans to purchase the Adagio Seafood Restaurant building at 530 Pembroke Road and convert it into a private membership club for City of Bethlehem police officers, both active and retired.

The restaurant is a non-conforming use that operated in the building since the 1970s. The property is in the RT-high density residential zoning district.

Currently, the building houses the restaurant with two bars and a banquet hall. The FOP said it plans to use the building on a smaller scale, converting the largest part of the property into a gym with weight equipment for members, a padded training room for defensive tactics and physical skills, and a space for professional training opportunities.

Although the current use has a liquor license, the FOP says it has no intentions of purchasing the license from Adagio.

In a letter from the FOP describing its plans to the zoning hearing board, the organization said the facility “will provide Bethlehem’s police officers with a dedicated space to improve physical health and fitness, as well as host professional training opportunities that will ultimately benefit the entire community.”

Short-term rental

In another matter, the zoners announced that a scheduled hearing for 250 E. Market St. has been continued until Dec. 17.

The appeal is from Evette Rios, on behalf of East Market Living LLC, to use a multi-unit house for short-term rentals.

The property is in the RT-high density residential district.

Attorney Timothy Stevens, representing Frank Boyer, a neighbor of the property, commented that this has been the second continuance granted and requested that if a third request is received from the applicant to further continue the matter on Dec. 17, it should be denied.

“It should absolutely be denied unless there’s some extraordinary circumstances,” Stevens said. “We just wanted to alert the board that there are concerns that there are continuing violations.”

Stevens said the property is still listed as available on Airbnb.