During a contentious four-hour Dec. 6 meeting, the Historical and Architectural Review Board voted 4-1 to table the city Parking Authority’s proposal to replace the existing Walnut Street parking garage with a far taller one. Nik Nikolov was the dissenting vote.

Bethlehem Parking Authority Executive Director Steve Fernstrom and Bethlehem Community & Economic Director Laura Collins returned with updated plans in an attempt to address concerns expressed in previous meetings.

The city was assisted by Kevin Carrigan and Michael App from THA Consulting. They had scored a COA in September to demolish the aging, five-tier, 700-space facility built in 1976.

According to the city’s presentation, the new garage would be situated on the eastern portion of the site, leaving the western portion available for future development. One of the slides depicted the area for future development with a giant white box, which some in the audience found unsettling.

Plans for the new garage include condominium parking, public parking and retail space. The façade of the proposed building will include a combination of brick, precast concrete, ornamental metal screen, storefronts and curtain wall.

These plans were met with a wall of resistance by members of the public, who beat down the proposed height of the new structure, including the solid south wall facing the backyards of the homes along West Market Street.

Dan and Shelley Nigito were first at the podium, criticizing the nearly 71-foot wall they would be viewing from their back door. “That is 36 feet higher than what it is now,” Dan Nigito said. He also presented a printout depicting how the proposed taller parking garage would look from God’s Acre. “It’s ground zero for the World Heritage Site,” Nigito said.

Nigito’s sentiments of, “It’s too tall and too small,” were shared by other Bethlehem residents.

“This is going to obliterate the skyline,” complained West Market Street resident Marten Romeril.

Center Street resident Michael Bianco disputed how much room there is for the new structure to expand toward West Walnut Street.

“Little of this project has been handled in an aboveboard fashion,” said Bethlehem resident Dana Grubb. “It’s meetings like this that the public finally finds out what’s going on.” He and others questioned why emails to commissioners regarding the garage did not get replies.

In addition to criticizing the overall planned height, Bruce Haines argued a need for maintaining the existing 700 parking spaces to handle parking for Bethlehem’s music festivals, as well as anticipated parking needs for tourists visiting the area when it is designated a World Heritage Site. The city’s proposal calls for a 591-space garage to allow for a potential high-rise apartment building with additional retail units.

Residents Stephen Antalics, Byran Carnaham, Molly Wilshere, Bill Scheirer and Nancy Watkins also asked commissioners to deny the application.

There was consensus among the speakers for the need for a new parking garage on the site. They also agreed that HARB shouldn’t set a precedent allowing for construction of tall and massive structures within the boundaries of the historic district.

The property is owned by the Bethlehem Parking Authority.

The Historical and Architectural Review Board regularly meets the first Wednesday of every month to review all exterior changes proposed to buildings in the Bethlehem Historic District north of the Lehigh River. When a proposed project receives a certificate of appropriateness from the board, applicants must wait for city council to vote on it before proceeding. Meetings can be viewed on YouTube.