Spectators stood watching from the hallways during a packed city council meeting Aug. 2. At stake were a Southside LERTA expansion, urban chickens and the fate of ArtsQuest’s Banana Factory.

LERTA

Weeks of city official briefings, committee discussions, amendment debates and public comments finally came to an end – under a tight deadline – when the Southside II Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Program was unanimously approved by a vote of 7-0.

Slightly different from the original version, this new LERTA will not only hold developers accountable for delinquent payments with penalties, but it will also require the much debated new fee from developers of $52,320 from those who do not meet the affordable housing criteria. This is expected to help revitalize the economy of former Bethlehem Steel properties.

Mayor William Reynolds’ office provided this respons.:” LERTA has been a remarkably effective economic development program for the City of Bethlehem over several decades, and the administration hopes the Southside LERTA II can continue that success. With this ordinance, we aimed to incentivize the development of remaining former Bethlehem Steel properties and targeted business and commercial properties while also promoting investment in affordable housing. We crafted the LERTA to achieve maximum benefit for the city based on the significant research, analysis and expertise of our professional staff, so we are of course disappointed that members of city council amended the ordinance against our advice to placate their preference for a higher payment-in-lieu fee without the support of legitimate market data.”

Backyard Chickens

Food insecurities and teaching responsibility to younger family members were mentioning by numerous residents in favor of the Ordinance of Backyard Chickens.

To alleviate concerns, Dr. Paige Van Wirt had submitted an amended version of her ordinance days prior to the meeting. She said the amendments and the issuing of 40 permits would give the city’s animal control officer time to learn the pros and cons of this initiative within the first year of the ordinance coming into effect.

Echoing concerns first raised at the July 19 meeting, Reynolds once again criticized the process and deliberation of the backyard chicken ordinance. He reminded council members that they “are not in a vacuum” and that people are reading what is being published in the press.

Reynolds went on to explain how his office had been inundated by calls from residents with numerous questions, including from some falsely under the impression that they could already obtain permits to have chickens in their backyard. He said city staff, already busy with Musikfest, are now dealing with an ordinance that is still under discussion.

The ordinance vote was postponed until Aug. 16.

ArtsQuest

Banana Factory

Shortly after 11 p.m., council passed, by a 5-2 vote, a request by ArtsQuest to tear down all six Banana Factory buildings. ArtsQuest’s plan is to consolidate everything from studios to offices into a proposed five-story cultural building.

The plan had been denied by the Historic Conservation Commission last month.

The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m Aug. 16 at city hall.