The Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission tabled a proposal to remove a stone masonry retaining wallat Holy Infancy Church to make way for an ADA ramp at the Aug. 21 meeting held in the Rotunda.

Representing 312 E. Fourth St., Father Andrew Gehringer, Business Manager Joe McCarthy from Holy Infancy Church, along with Joseph Sedler from Sedler Design & Redevelopment, and engineer Al-Maher Abdelaal, were unable to secure a certificate of appropriateness for the demolition stage of their proposal.

The stone wall runs along the front of the parish house lot as it faces Fourth Street and along the side of it facing the eastern side of the church built in 1865 as St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church. The church, was later expanded in 1886. A short driveway separates the church from the parish house.

Representatives told the commissioners that the older members of the congregation are in need of a new ADA ramp in order to gain better access to the building. Sedler said the handicap pedramp at the rear of the property leading to the sacristy has proven inadequate.

The proposal calls for the demolition of the entire stone wall, as well as a pair of unused coal bins, and regrading the yard around the house. McCarthy cited the need to widen the area between buildings to allow a bucket truck for regular maintenance of the slate roof, while making room for the proposed concrete with stone facing ramp at the side of the church. He also said the front wall is “failing.”

McCarthy stated it would be impossible to construct a ramp at the church entrance facing Fourth Street and an ADA ramp along the west side of the church would block the sidewalk.

Historic Officer Jeffrey Long observed the proposal to totally demo litionthe stone wall “violates historic standards,” as it ties in with similar retaining walls within the historic district. He expressed concerns about replacing a historic leaded glass window with a door where the ADA ramp would connect to the building.

Chairman Gary Lader suggested an aluminum ADA ramp be installed so it would not cause damage to the existing church stone wall, as a concrete one he feared would. Vice Chairman Craig Evans asked if a mechanical chairlift could be employed.

With the proposal being tabled, the applicants were instructed to redesign the project to allow for the retention of the rectory’s retaining wall facing Fourth Street, as well as revisiting the ramp design and detailed plans for the leaded glass window when modifying it to accommodate an accessible entry.

Assisted by Dan Shushinsky from D&S Contracting Spec., John McGeehan scored a COA to replace existing 3-tab shingle roofing with GAF Slateline shingles in Antique Slate for his home at 375 13th Ave.

The existing built-in box gutters are to be lined with EPDM synthetic rubber roofing membrane at the Colonial Revival frame house built in 1910.

All voting was unanimous.

Obtaining a certificate of appropriateness is only a first step for business owners and residents in a designated historic district who wish to make alterations to a building’s exterior. The commission’s recommendations are later reviewed, and then voted on by city council before any project is allowed to proceed.