Is Work Stalled on 220 Apartments at Site of Drive-In Theater on Easton Avenue in Bethlehem Township? Land Remains Vacant, Little Sign of Activity

March 19, 2026

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

A year ago, I wrote about how work was progressing on the proposed 220 apartments at the former Bethlehem Drive-In theater.

There were construction vehicles at 3022 Easton Ave. in Bethlehem Township, preparing the land.

So much for that burst of activity. The site is empty and has an abandoned look.

Developer Wind-Drift Associates‘ plan was approved by Bethlehem Township in 2022 over the objections of some residents, who were concerned about traffic and stormwater runoff. The proposal was not popular, but it was legal under the township zoning ordinance.

The proposed complex is on the south side of Easton Avenue just east of the Giant shopping center. It was considered one of the biggest developments in township history.

The development was called Thirty22 Garden Apartments (named for the address) and as proposed in 2022, would have eight three- to four-story buildings and a clubhouse, with 480 parking spaces.

Residents complained about traffic, which already backs up on the busy stretch of road. There is often congestion from Santee Road to the T-junction at Butztown Road, and east to the shopping center. There are traffic lights at Butztown Road, in front of the small retail center with the Monro auto-repair store and at the Giant shopping center.

In the late afternoon, eastbound traffic backs way up at the lights, and then if somebody is making a left onto Santee, there is more congestion.

The land is behind Monro and other businesses on Easton Avenue. The developer still has a year left to finish the job, which as noted, was approved in 2022, four years ago.

Here are some notes from the March 7, 2022 meeting when the development was approved. They are also available on the township website in the section for archived minutes.

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A MOTION GRANTING CONDITIONAL USE OF GARDEN
APARTMENTS TO THIRTY22 GARDEN APARTMENTS (3022 EASTON
AVENUE), CONDITIONED ON THE APPLICANT COMPLYING WITH
ALL OTHER APPLICABLE SECTIONS OF TOWNSHIP ORDINANCES
AND WITH ALL OUTSTANDING ISSUES AS LISTED IN THE
TOWNSHIP ENGINEER’S REVIEW LETTER DATED JANUARY 20,
2022

Solicitor Broughal explained that there was a conditional use hearing on February
21, 2022 where testimony was given and the public had an opportunity to speak.
He said the board must now vote on the matter. Ms. Davis asked Ms. Raudenbush to read the conditions for the benefit of the public. Ms. Raudenbush reminded the board that they are only voting on the conditional use.

Upon motion (Davis-Gallagher), the Board of Commissioners voted by voice
vote to approve a motion granting conditional use of garden apartments to
Thirty22 Garden Apartments (3022 Easton Avenue), conditioned on the applicant
complying with all other applicable sections of township ordinances and with all
outstanding issues as listed in the township engineer’s review letter dated January
20, 2022. The motion passed 4 to1. Mr. Sourbeck opposed.

A RESOLUTION GRANTING CONDITIONAL PRELIMINARY/FINAL
LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPROVAL OF THIRTY22 PLACE

Ms. Raudenbush said the plan proposes 220-unit Garden Apartment Complex at
the former Bethlehem Drive-In in the Commercial Enhancement Overlay
District. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the Conditional
Use at their meeting on July 26, 2021. Ms. Raudenbush said the applicant
received a permanent easement. Mr. Tallarida said the plan shown has not been
updated but will need to be revised before they can be recorded. Ms. Raudenbush
read the six waivers requested:

1. §218.28.B(5) – Waiver from the requirement for the edge of a detention
   basin grading to be within the subject property (the applicant has obtained
   a 50-foot wide easement from the adjacent property to provide space to
   complete the proposed basin grading)
2. §218-28.C – Waiver of the maximum allowable inside slope (4:1) for a
   detention basin. A basin inside slope of 3:1 is proposed.
3. §230-30.C(6) – Waiver to sign and seal a Plan Preparer’s Statement on
   each sheet
4. §230-30.B(3) – Waiver of 1”=100’ scale Key Maps; 1”=200’ scale Key
   Maps are provided
5. §230-29.A – Waiver to allow a Preliminary/Final Plan review/approval
   process in lieu of separate Preliminary and Final Plan approval processes
6. §230-30.E(10) – Waiver from the requirement to provide the approximate
   locations of the following within 200 feet of the boundaries of the site:
   existing and proposed streets, buildings, detention basins, common open
   spaces, lots, drainage channels

Ms. Davis asked if the they had elevation drawings. Keith Lawler, Keystone
Engineers, representing the developer, said they haven’t any detail for the
building. Mr. Gallagher said he was surprised. Mr. Ronca said he will provide
the board with something.

*****

Then several residents raised issues of traffic, and they were told Easton Avenue is a state road and the developer was working with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. That was not a very satisfying answer, but the truth is, the township can’t do much about state roads.

Then a final vote:

*****

Upon motion (Davis-Beatty), the Board of Commissioners voted by voice vote to
approve Resolution R032-22 granting conditional preliminary/final land
development plan approval of Thirty22 Place. The motion passed 3-1-1. Mr.
Sourbeck opposed. Mr. Gallagher abstained.

*******

The vote was four years ago, and since then, two of the commissioners, Malissa Davis and Dale Sourbeck, have died. Both were fine public officials and tried to do the right thing within the bounds of the law.

So I’ll keep checking on 3022 Easton Ave. as I walk about. The developer has a year left, and there’s a lot of work to be done.