BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Plans to develop a lot at the former Bethlehem Steel property gained approval from the Bethlehem Planning Commission Thursday.
Specifically, the commission members voted to approve a land development plan for a 26-acre lot at 2141 Commerce Center Blvd., at Route 412 (Hellertown Road). The project’s developer is JERC Partners XCII LLC, a J.G. Petrucci Co. entity, and Lehigh Valley Industrial Park.
Plans for the site, Lehigh Valley Industrial Park VII, include warehouses, dubbed “A” and “B.”
The site is bordered by a Wawa convenience store, Little League baseball fields and Saucon Creek to the west. To the east is a DHL/Primark warehouse.
The larger of the two warehouses — at 216,000 square feet — is currently named “Building A” and sits on roughly 18 acres. It would be joined at the site with another 101,000-square-foot warehouse, named “Building B,” that sits on 8.2 acres.
The larger warehouse would include 32 loading docks and 106 vehicle parking spaces. Plans for the smaller warehouse include 28 loading docks and 58 vehicle parking spaces.
The south façade of Building A will run parallel to Commerce Center Boulevard.
A local manufacturer seeking cold storage has been identified as a future tenant in Building A, and the building itself will have 10,000 square feet dedicated to administrative and office space, with the rest of the square footage a combination of freezer and cooler space.
In its review letter to the applicant, the city outlined several concerns and directives.
For instance, the city outlines recreation fees for each building: $17,000 for Building A and $11,250 for Building B. The fees must be paid before finalizing the developer’s agreement.
The city also requested more detailed façade information, particularly for Building B, which should include rendered perspectives with material labels.
The city was also interested in the applicant indicating “how the two buildings’ design will correlate with one and other.”
Lastly, the city asked that additional plantings would help screen parking from the view of motorists on Hellertown Road.
Craig Peiffer, deputy director of the city’s Bureau of Planning and Zoning, also addressed the site’s aesthetics.
“Street trees added on the site can go a long way in improving Commerce Center Boulevard and Route 412,” Peiffer said.
Planners Rob Melosky and Joy Cohen emphasized the importance of the site’s appearance given its location in the city.
“Because it is a gateway, we want to make sure from an aesthetic standpoint that it’s appealing,” Melosky said.
Matt Chartrand of Bohler Engineering, speaking on behalf of the applicant, acknowledged the importance of aesthetics for the site given its prominent location.
“We do understand this is a gateway to the city; we know, and we want to do our best to present our best foot forward for the site,” Chartrand said.
He explained that the applicant intends to add a green area to the site that includes a large lined rain garden. The garden will help with water quality and overall stormwater on the site, he explained.
Chartrand also said the site is serviced by public utilities and drains to the Saucon Creek. The site is part of an Act 2 cleanup plan that provides one foot of clean cap across the entire pervious area of the site.
Stormwater conveyance systems were added to the site when it was considered by Walmart in 2017, he said.
Peiffer gave the board the city’s recommendations for the project as stated in its letter.
According to Peiffer, the city’s recommendations concern stormwater management and significant stormwater comments.
The applicant and team met with city staff and engineers recently, during which they “ostensibly eliminated concerns,” Peiffer said.
Other concerns include traffic at the intersection of Commerce Center Boulevard and Gilchrist Drive, and the ability of the fire department to reach all aspects of the site with its apparatus.
Before the planning body took action on the plan, Melosky commented on the appropriate use of the site.
“Our city is fortunate because we have a location that is perfect and where it should be,” he said.
For instance, the site has infrastructure, is close to highways and signifies reuse of the former Bethlehem Steel land, Melosky said.
The site will also have a new LANTA bus shelter location.
Following discussion, the planning commission members approved two motions. The first motion included waivers related to building materials, while the second approved land development plans and lot consolidation and division of property, all contingent upon the applicant addressing the city’s comments.