May 11, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Is Royal Farms finally coming to Bethlehem?
The convenience-store chain known for its chicken is back, this time on the May 14 agenda of the Bethlehem Planning Commission.
Royal Farms plans a store at 2355 Avenue A:
“The Applicant proposes to construct a 5,194 SF Royal Farms Retail Store, with 12 fuel pumps under a
4,581 SF canopy, 43 off-street surface parking spaces, signage, dumpster enclosure, and underground
stormwater management facilities,” according to the meeting agenda.
There will be a lot more going on. The city will check on the 65 homes planned for the “Gold Tract” off Township Line Road. Most of those homes will be in Bethlehem Township, with just 19 in the city. The development’s current title is Autumn Estates.
Abe Atiyeh’s plan to put five townhouses behind a home on 1224 Eaton Ave. is back.
The Gateway at Fourth proposal for 120 housing units at 1400 E. Fourth St. (the former Szilagyi Fuel property) is on the agenda, and another big one for the South Side, this at 404 E. Third St.:
Planned is “a seven-story structure containing” commercial space on the first and second floor, and 80 apartments on floors three through seven, 30 one-bedroom apartments and 50 two-bedroom).
The City of Bethlehem Planning Commission will meet at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, at Town Hall, 10 E. Church St.
Here’s a cut-and-paste version of the agenda, but see the city website for the real thing. Agendas are subject to change. Projects documents were not available online when I filed this item, but the agenda was.
AGENDA
PLANNING COMMISSION
Thursday, May 14, 2026 @ 5:00 pm
Town Hall
10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem PA
The Meeting will be livestreamed for viewing purposes only on:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4HYHr4C6mVbfhRXhWYXaJw
Applications can be viewed at:
https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/calendar-planning-zoning, or in Bethlehem City Hall.
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 9, 2026
- (26-002 LD) – 26020001 – 1224 EATON AVENUE – LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN – Ward 13,
Zoned RG, plans dated February 2, 2026 (continued from the March 12, 2026 Meeting).
The applicant proposes to maintain the existing single-family detached dwelling and existing driveway and
construct three single-family attached dwellings (aka townhomes or rowhomes) and two single-family
semi-detached dwellings (aka duplex or twins) for a total of five new dwellings; 11 off-street parking
spaces, emergency turnaround, dumpster enclosure and other site appurtenances. Vehicular access for the
new dwellings is proposed via a new ingress/egress drive along the east end of the property. - (25-001 SUB) – 25120001 – TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD (between Santee Mill Rd and US Route 22,
formerly known as Gold Tract, now called Autumn Estates) – MAJOR SUBDIVISION PLAN –
Ward 14, Zoned RR, plan dated November 21, 2025, last revised April 1, 2026.
The applicant proposes a major subdivision to create 65 residential lots, of which 19 are located within the
City of Bethlehem. The subdivision also includes the creation of Open Space Lots 1, 3 and 4, Stormwater
Management Lot 1, and Township Line Road Right-of-Way Dedication. Excluded from the subdivision is
the lot containing the existing dwelling, n/f Flor De Maria Booke, and the lot containing the sanitary sewer
pump station, Bethlehem Township Municipal Authority. The applicant utilizes Article 1309 Open Space
Development Option: thereby increasing their permitted number of lots from 17 to 20. A small portion of
the City parcel is located within the floodway, and a significant portion is located within the Special Flood
Hazard Area, Zone AE, with identified steep slopes and wetlands. No dwellings are proposed to be within
these areas. - (26-001 Sketch Plan Review) – 26030007 – 2355 AVENUE A (ROYAL FARMS) – SKETCH PLAN
REVIEW – Ward 13, Zoned CG, plans dated March 2026 (issued to client date March 11, 2026).
The Applicant proposes to construct a 5,194 SF Royal Farms Retail Store, with 12 fuel pumps under a
4,581 SF canopy, 43 off-street surface parking spaces, signage, dumpster enclosure, and underground
stormwater management facilities. - (26-001 LD) – 26010004 – 404 EAST THIRD STREET (aka 404 Mechanic Street) – LAND
DEVELOPMENT PLAN – Ward 4, Zoned IR-R, plans dated January 2, 2026.
The applicant proposes to construct a seven-story structure containing two commercial spaces (3,394 SF
Tenant A, 2,183 SF-Tenant B) and utilities on the first floor; one commercial space (7,671 SF-Tenant C)
and residential tenant amenities on the second floor and 80 multi-family dwellings (30 one-bedroom and
50 two-bedroom) on floors three through seven. Gross floor area for the first floor totals 8,050 SF, second
OVER
floor totals 11,425 SF and the maximum footprint totals 15,060 SF. - (26-004 LD&S) – 26020009 – 1400 EAST 4TH STREET (Eastern Gateway aka Gateway on 4th) –
LAND DEVELOPMENT AND SUBDIVISION PLAN (LOT CONSOLIDATION AND RE
SUBDIVISION) – Ward 17, Zoned CL, plans dated February 20, 2026.
The Applicant proposes to construct in two phases: - Phase One will include:
a. (Building A) a four-story structure, with the first floor containing a 1,200 SF retail space, a
750 SF fitness center, a 1,350 SF community room, and maintenance and utility spaces (all
square footage is approximate), floors two through four will contain 44 multi-family
dwellings.
b. (Building B) a two-story structure, as viewed from E 5th Street, containing 16 multi-family
dwellings with 20 below grade, due to site topography, parking spaces.
c. Additional site improvements include a 45-car surface parking lot, trash enclosure, mailbox
shelter, stormwater management facilities, lighting, landscaping, and other site appurtenances. - Phase Two will include:
a. (Building C) a three-story structure, containing 44 multi-family dwellings.
b. (Building D) a two-story structure, as viewed from E 5th Street, containing 16 multi-family
dwellings with 20 below grade, due to site topography, parking spaces.
c. Additional site improvements include a 45-car surface parking lot, tot lot, paved trail
connection to the South Bethlehem Greenway, stormwater management facilities, lighting
landscaping and other site appurtenances. - GENERAL DISCUSSION I
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 