Bethlehem City Council met via YouTube Jan. 5, and heard about the new “My Bethlehem PA application, which provides access to various topics featured on the City’s website.

According to a statement on the city’s website, Mayor Robert Donchez said, “The My Bethlehem PA application provides access to information regarding COVID-19, Lehigh County and Northampton County Crisis Intervention, Parking, the Bethlehem Service Center to register or report a problem and information for those visiting our wonderful City, to name a few.”

“Using an Apple or Android phone, go to the App Store, type in My Bethlehem PA, and download it. There is no fee to download the app.”

According to Donchez’s spokesperson, who demonstrated the application to the one or two people present in the room (almost everyone was logged in the meeting from a remote location), the application is available in Spanish and in English.

It can be used to access information on COVID-19, vaccinations, health department information and even put job opportunities at the user’s fingertips.

Several Councilmembers commented on the application.

“Very impressive,” said Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith.

William Reynolds said, “It is lot more user-friendly.”

Council President Adam Waldron opined, “Great to see everything in one spot.”

Olga Negron said she appreciated the crises intervention feature of the application.

Michael Colon said he appreciated that the new application is an improvement over the old one. “You don’t have to down-load anything if you had the old service center app.” He said that having this application helps people keep updated without having to go on the city’s website.

Council then commenced a public hearing to gather public comment on the proposed zoning amendment proposed by the administration to allow first floor commercial use of building in the CB (central business) and CL (limited commercial) Zoning Districts.

Director of Zoning and Planning Darlene Heller, in a letter from the administration said, “The amendment clarifies that the requirement applies to buildings in the CB and CL districts no matter what the upper floor uses are. The amendment also loosens the first-floor requirements in the CL zoning district to allow a broader range of commercial uses, including professional offices.”

In personal testimony via YouTube, Heller said the amendment would clarify that the first floor spaces in building in the CB and CL Zoning districts would “include only restaurants, retail [stores] and personal services.”

She said the ordinance reduces ambiguity of, and clarifies, the zoning ordinance.

The planning commission voted unanimously to approve the amendment to the ordinance. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission determined the amendment is “generally consistent with the Regional Plan.”

The proposed ordinance will require that, “All retail and service uses must be enclosed within a building. In the CB Zoning District, all permitted uses shall include a principal retail, restaurant or personal service use on the front street level. An office use, professional or otherwise, shall not be permitted on the front street level in the CB Zoning District. In the CL Zoning District, a principal commercial use shall be located in the front street level.”

Crampsie Smith supported the zoning changes saying, “Our hearts are breaking for the businesses with regard to COVID.” I hope we get existing businesses up and at them again, [and] get new businesses going.”

Crampsie Smith asked Heller how the amendment would affect existing businesses?

“It doesn’t really hurt existing businesses at all,” said Heller. “We are just looking to supplement open space or change of use with retail or restaurant.”

There was no public comment on the zoning amendment and Waldron announced that the amendment would be placed on the Jan. 19 regular meeting agenda for a first reading. “First reading” of an ordinance means that the amendment will be formally introduced and that a final vote will be scheduled, usually at the following regular meeting. Further opportunity for public comment will be made at that time.