EASTON, Pa. – Easton City Council introduced legislation increasing affordable housing requirements for developers Wednesday night at College Hill Presbyterian Church.

The changes focus on what is called “workforce housing,” which has been amended as units “that are affordable to households no more than 85% of the median income for the City of Easton for a one-bedroom apartment or no more than 95% of the median income for the City of Easton for a two-bedroom apartment.”

A section governing workforce housing requirements would be altered in this legislation. Currently, all developments within the city that meet the applicability standards have a minimum 10% set-aside of the total development units requirement. With the amendment, that number would increase to 25%.

For example, a development with 40 studio units, 80 one-bedroom units, and 40 two-bedroom units should provide 10 studio units, 20 one-bedroom units and 10 two-bedroom units of workforce housing. 

With the percentage increase, the in-lieu fee option would also increase. For example, should a developer want to build a 100-unit property and designate no units as workforce, the fee would increase from $10,000 to $25,000. The in-lieu fee shall be reviewed every five years by City Council.

The measure (see page 209) will be considered at future meetings.

Zoning notification

City Council approved an ordinance amending hearings concerning Easton’s zoning code.

The change extends the distance that property owners will be notified when an appeal to the code is filed by an applicant. The amendment alters the distance from 100 feet to 200 feet.

New solicitor

The legislative body approved promoting assistant solicitor Michael Vargo to the position of solicitor. 

Park design

The board authorized the department of community and economic development to apply for a state grant to benefits two parks.

Easton officials will apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Watershed Restoration and Protection Program for a grant to design and construct best management practices at St. Joseph Street Park and Pioneer Park.

The city is seeking $144,000 from the state. Should the city receive it, it will provide a 20% match up to $36,000.

Feral cats

In an effort to provide humane techniques to control and reduce the city’s feral cat population, City Council approved contracts with two organizations: FURR and The Center for Animal Health & Welfare. The two organizations will provide trap-neuter-return programs.