The Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission fielded two proposals July 20 at their first in-person hearing since the pandemic shut down city hall to the public in late March. Chairman Philip Roeder, Vice Chairman Gary Lader, Beth Starbuck, Craig Evans, and Historic Officer Jeff Long met masked face-to-masked face. Seth Cornish and Roger Hudak attended virtually from their homes. The applicants all opted for attending online via GoToMeeting.

Darlene Heller, Bethlehem’s director of planning and zoning and Jonathon Palsi from information services worked the controls to keep literal and online attendees in sync. According to Palsi, the meeting was recorded and can be viewed on YouTube via a link on the city’s website.

Lawrence Eighmy, accompanied “virtually’ by Theresa Duncan from The Stone House Group and architect Elliot Nolter, brought a complicated project for 327 Broadway that Long broke up into separate, smaller proposals for consideration. Eighmy and his team have been before the board multiple times on development proposals for the former parking garage located behind the “Flatiron Building.”

The developer was granted a certificate of appropriateness for signage for 327 Broadway and its neighbor at 325. At the commissioners’ suggestion, Eighmy agreed to installing window logo decals for Seven Sirens Brewing Company and District Court 03-2-10 on each of two storefront window panels, with hours listed below, and the Flatiron Flats logo on the door for 327 Broadway.

The blue and red “Metro by T-Mobil” logo made from cut aluminum would be centered on the façade of 325 Broadway, replacing the existing “Metro PCS” sign. The redundant “Metro PCS” sign over the shop window will be removed. Approval was granted, pending the applicants sending a revised drawing of the signage with dimensions to the chair and historic officer.

Metal siding for the penthouse that resembles “standing seam metal roofs” in dark bronze was approved with the caveat that additional details be submitted for review.

A proposed guardrail and steel and fabric shade structure for the rooftop “biergarten” facing Broadway was tabled. Board members cited the lack of details and measurements as the reason. Eighmy was encouraged to return with “new ideas.” Roeder suggested a permanent roof be utilized for shading the rooftop dining area.

Other tabled proposals include treatment for the north façade facing E. Fourth Street, where a decorative frieze had been chiseled off and the top of the two-story, five-bay storefront had been flattened. With the center cast stone decorative disc above the second story windows located somewhat higher on the façade than the two on each side of it, it was suggested by the board to “bump up” the center section over three bays with additional courses of bricks for a stepped parapet.

After viewing revised plans for the first floor of the Fourth Street façade, the Bethlehem HCC rejected what was submitted while recommending proposed translucent glass be replaced by clear glass, dark bronze architectural louvers in the transoms be replaced with glass, and other details, like ways to screen venting, be rethought. Vice Chair Gary Lader suggested installing film appliqué to the inside of the glass to provide privacy for the courtroom garage entrance, instead of using translucent glass.

When asked by Eighmy about a contemplated future installation of two tiny modular homes on the roof, Roeder replied, “It’s very much a zoning/planning issue.”

The large circa 1880s general store’s decorative architectural details were obliterated when it was converted into an auto sales and service location in 1929. The properties are owned by Eighmy through Sycamore Hill Farm Development.

Representing 733 E. Fourth St., contractor John Counterman quickly secured approval for replacement of his client’s leaky roof. The front of the peaked roof that faces Fourth Street is to be clad in GAF Slateline antique slate gray shingles with copper flashing and aluminum drip edge painted to match existing trim. Since the back part of the roof is not visible from the street, architectural shingles were allowed, with venting installed in the rear.

The two and one-half-story commercial building is owned by Anh Quoc Nguyen.

All votes were unanimous.

The Bethlehem HCC is charged with the task of determining if new signs or other alterations to a building’s exterior would be an appropriate fit for the neighborhood in one of three designated historic districts. Hearings are regularly scheduled on the third Monday of the month at city hall.