Bethlehem to Review Plans for Homes on Macada Road, Broad Street and Elliott Avenue, and Self-Storage on Linden Street

June 9, 2026

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

The Bethlehem Planning Commission will look at plans for 27 homes and a self-storage facility on Thursday.

At 56 East Broad St., the commission’s agenda indicates a plan for 10 apartments with commercial space at street level. The staff notes commend the “fenestration” of the plan; that is an interesting word for windows and doors. The proposed building would be three stories high.

The owner of the 52-62 E. Broad St. property is a limited liability corporation based in Williamsburg, Virginia. The plan includes some other changes at the Broad Street lots.

Six single-family homes are proposed for 505 E. Macada Road, a 2.5-acre property at the intersection with Artemis Drive. According to the planning agenda, the homes would be about 2,240 square feet up to 2,498 square feet.

The home and other buildings on the site would be demolished, and the property cut into six lots.

At 1801 Elliott Ave., a property near the Lehigh River on the west side of the city, 11 homes are planned. Ten of them would be twin homes, with one single-family dwelling. The property is off Mount Airy Avenue.

The self-storage plan is for 2955 Linden St. Other businesses near the intersection of Linden and Macada Road include the Learning Center, a Community Bank branch and Walgreen’s pharmacy. Based on the sketch included with the plan, the self-storage facility would be behind the bank and next to the Learning Center.

The storage business would have five buildings. Access would be via the existing parking area.

The City of Bethlehem Planning Commission will meet at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 11 in Town Hall. The meeting is open to the public and will be shown on the Internet.

Here is a link to the agenda, and below a cut-and-paste version. Agendas are subject to change.

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – May 14, 2026
2. (26-001 Site Plan Review) – 26050004 – 1801 ELLIOTT AVENUE – SITE PLAN REVIEW – Ward 13, Zoned RR, plan dated March 16, 2026.
   The Applicant proposes to subdivide the parcel into eleven (11) lots. Lots 1-10 would front Elliott Avenue.
   Lot 1 would measure 45’ along the front lot line by 110’ in depth and total 4,950 SF or 0.1136 Acres. Lots 2-9 would measure 40’ along the front lot line by 110’ in depth and total 4,400 SF or 0.1010 Acres. Lot 10 would be irregular in shape and would measure 45’ along the front lot line by 110’ in depth; the area is unknown. Lot 11 would front Mt. Airy Avenue, would be irregular in shape and measure 124’ along the front lot line; the depth varies and the area is unknown.
   Lots 1-10 would each contain a single-family semi-detached dwelling with driveway and single car garage. Lot 11 is presumed to be developed into a single-family detached dwelling.
3. (26-002 Sketch Plan Review) – 26050002 – 505 EAST MACADA ROAD – SKETCH PLAN REVIEW – Ward 14, Zoned RR, plan dated May 5, 2026.
   The Applicant’s intent is to redevelop the parcel, i.e., remove all existing structures, and subdivide the parcel into six lots: Proposed Lot 1 would front Apollo Dr., measure ~185’ along the front lot line by ~130’ in depth and total
   ~24,050 SF or ~0.5521 Acres.
   Proposed Lot 2 would front Apollo Dr., measure ~124’ along the front lot line by ~130’ in depth and total ~16,120 SF or ~0.3700 Acres.
   Proposed Lot 3 would front Apollo Dr., measure ~124’ (at the front yard setback) by ~130’ in depth and total ~16,120 SF or ~0.3700 Acres.
   Proposed Lots 6, 5 and 4, would front E. Macada Rd., and with dimensions that would mirror Proposed
   Lots 1, 2 and 3.
   An overhead wire traverses Lots 1 and 6. Each lot is proposed to contain a single-family detached dwelling with driveway and (presumably) a garage.
4. (26-003 Sketch Plan Review) – 26050007 – 52-62 EAST BROAD STREET – SKETCH PLAN REVIEW – Ward 7, Zoned CL, plans dated February 16, 2026, last revised April 28, 2026.
   The Applicants propose to construct a three-story brick and frame in-fill structure on the parcel 56 E. Broad Street. The structure would contain a ~730 SF commercial use on the first floor front and nine multi-family dwellings on the first-floor rear, second and third floors. The applicants propose modifying the tenant spaces at 52 E. Broad Street, reducing it to ~523 SF and creating a tenth new dwelling to the overall site. The proposed plan would contain four commercial uses, 19 dwellings, and 45 off-street parking spaces (44 surface and one garage space).
5. (26-001 MLD) – 26040002 – 2955 LINDEN STREET, PARCEL 8D – MINOR LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN – Ward 14, Zoned CS, Plan dated April 7, 2026.
   The Applicant proposes to remove the parking lot in its entirety and construct a Self-Storage Development containing five structures (20’ x 50’ or 1,000 SF, 15’ x 65’ or 975 SF, 20’ x 90’ or 1,800 SF, 15’ x 80’ or 1,200 SF and 40’ x 120’ or 4,800 SF), 8’ high chain link fence and gate, lighting, landscaping and stormwater management facilities.
6. ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT
   Zoning Ordinance Amendments to Article 1302.13 modify definitions of hotel and boarding house, amend Article 1307, relating to workforce housing incentive to include CL District, and revise Article 1318.26 to prohibit multiple single-family detached dwellings on the same lot, among districts.
7. GENERAL DISCUSSION ITEMS