May 18, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Bethlehem City Council will hear Wednesday about a plan to limit using residences for transient paying guests.
From a memo to council from Assistant Solicitor Matthew J. Deschler:
“The proposed amendments modify the definition of “hotel” in the Zoning Ordinance so as to include
transient guests, who are defined as individuals renting lodging for fewer than 30 consecutive days. The
amendments would have the effect of excluding short-term rentals in residential districts where hotels are
prohibited.”
The use of homes in residential areas in and near the historic downtown has been an issue for years.
Council will not vote on the proposal Wednesday. Deschler’s memo asks that it be reviewed by the city Planning Commission and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.
Council is meeting Wednesday because Tuesday is Election Day.
Council will also consider approving a permit for TacoFest, held at the ArtsQuest campus in south Bethlehem.
Here’s a note about the May 31 event from the ArtsQuest website:
— Spend the afternoon at the SteelStacks campus enjoying tacos from the Lehigh Valley and beyond, great drinks, live music, the SteelStacks Chihuahua Beauty Contest and more!
And did we mention tacos? Because there will be tacos. So. Many. Tacos. —
Bethlehem City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, in Town Hall on Church Street.
Council will consider several other resolutions and no doubt hear some complaints from the public. No ordinances for final passage are listed as of Monday.
Here is a link to the agenda and the webcast.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 