BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. – The Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners advanced zoning amendments governing convenience stores Monday night at the municipal building.
The adoption officially authorized township staff and solicitor to move the amendments for adoption and advertisement of a public hearing. Overall, the amendments “will promote, protect and facilitate the public health, safety and welfare,” according to the ordinance (see page 15).
The changes will address shortcomings in Bethlehem Township’s existing code, according to Samantha Smith, the township’s community development director. One example provided Monday night was how the current zoning regulations govern convenience stores and gas stations individually, but not collectively.
“This will address it,” said President John Merhottein.
Commissioner Michael Hudak said the changes would not result in a proliferation of convenience stores along Freemansburg Avenue.
The term “convenience store” would receive a complete rewrite, should the amendments become law. Convenience store would now be defined as a “use that primarily sells routine household goods, groceries and prepared ready-to-eat foods to the general public, but that is not primarily a restaurant, and that includes a sales area of less than 8,000 square feet.”
The definition includes also a section about gasoline sales. “Such use may also include sale of fuel, lubricants, or automobile accessories as an accessory use unless stated otherwise. This use may include the accessory sale of alcoholic beverages; however, if such sale is primary or substantial portion of the total trade, the requirements of a tavern must be met.”
Additions to zoning ordinance include regulations on electric vehicles charging stations and electric vehicle charging equipment.
The updated version defines an EV charging station as “battery charging station equipment with an associated parking space that is publicly accessible and has as its primary purpose the transfer of electric energy to a battery or other energy storage device in an electric vehicle.”
The new EV charging equipment definition notes that it is “any device that enables the safe transfer of energy between the local power supply grid and an electric vehicle.” This equipment includes “conductors; ungrounded, grounded and equipment grounding conductors, electric vehicle connectors, attachment plugs, software and all other fittings, devices, power outlets, induction plates or apparatus installed specifically for the purpose of delivering energy from the electric supply grid to an electric vehicle.”
Other sections governing auto repair garages were deleted in their entirety and replaced with new requirements. Highlights include fuel pumps and electric vehicle charging stations must be at least 25 feet from the ultimate street right-of-way. Another requires all fuel pumps, fuel storage tanks and buildings must be set back at least 300 feet from any public or private primary or secondary school, nursery or day-care facility, playground or personal care center, and at least 100 feet from any residential use.
Snowplowing
During a public comment session, one resident praised the township’s public works department forits snowplowing efforts during a weekend which saw three different snowfalls. However, one resident added that Carter Road in the township “kept drifting shut.”