BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board granted three variances and denied a fourth for a proposed workforce housing project Wednesday night at City Hall.<\/p>\n
The project calls for the construction of a three-story, 18-unit efficiency apartment building at 1438 Stefko Blvd., which the developer termed “workforce housing.”<\/p>\n
As part of the proposal, the applicant proposes to raise an existing home on the property.<\/p>\n
The applicant, the Estate of Fred Ronca, sought relief from three zoning code sections for four total variances.<\/p>\n
Zoners approved three variance requests involving lot area per dwelling unit, number of units, and off-street parking, with the condition that the applicant comply with the city’s definitions of workforce housing and applicant income requirements in one vote.<\/p>\n
The board denied a variance request requiring the site’s first-floor commercial use.<\/p>\n
The proposal calls for apartments totaling between 478 to 488 square feet. The units employ a single-room, open-concept layout with a combined kitchen, living, and sleeping space and bathroom.<\/p>\n
David Ronca, who is associated with the Estate of Fred Ronca, testified that the property is currently a single-family home. Ronca said he is not actually developing the property, but added the workforce housing concept proposed for the site would prove successful.<\/p>\n
Ronca was required to show hardships he could not address to receive the variances. He said that to provide an “affordable unit,” the apartment size was diminished. Ronca added that for the developer to make a profit, the 18-unit density was the scenario that proved successful while performing property due diligence.<\/p>\n
A second witness, Christopher Zajacek, a real estate broker, testified there is marginal demand at best for commercial space on Stefko Boulevard. The application stated further that the property “is not conducive to any commercial reuse or combined\/residential reuse.”<\/p>\n
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