June 23, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Jefferson Health is seeking Bethlehem’s permission to put up signs that exceed zoning limits at its LVH-Muhlenberg hospital in Bethlehem.
Philadelphia-based Jefferson, which operates locally under the Lehigh Valley Health Network brand, says a sign that’s already up exceeds the 40 square feet permitted by zoning. Bethlehem’s Zoning Hearing Board will consider the issue at a meeting Wednesday.
The existing sign will come down, if the zoning appeal succeeds, and Jefferson will put up 241.1 square feet of signs on the east side of the hospital at 2545 Schoenersville Road and 116 square feet on the south side.
The signs will be for the expanded emergency room and to identify the hospital as Jefferson Health. They will serve “a critical public safety function by that patients, visitors and emergency responders can quickly and safely locate the hospital’s emergency department,” according to documents filed with the city.
Jefferson acquired Lehigh Valley Hospital Network in 2024. LVH-Muhlenberg is on the west side of Schoenersville Road, just north of the Westgate Mall.
The zoning board will also hear an appeal for a daycare business in a private home at 520 Fourth Ave., a high-density residential zoning district.
The Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board will meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24 at the City Hall Rotunda, 10 E. Church St.
Agendas are subject to change. Check the city website closer to the meeting date. Look for the Community Meetings tab.
Here is a link to the agenda, and below is a cut-and-paste version:
CITY OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA
ZONING HEARING BOARD – PUBLIC HEARING
City Hall Rotunda
10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem PA
Wednesday, June 24, 2026 @ 6:00 PM
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.
Notice is hereby given that the Zoning Hearing Board will have a meeting for the purpose of hearing the following appeals:
1.) 520 4th Avenue
(CID # 111-007612) (PID # 642737793776 1)
Appeal of Martha M. Santos Maga for a special exception to operate a Family Day Care Home in a single-family, semi-detached dwelling, which permits 4-6 children. (Sections 1302.36(b), 1302.40(c), 1304.01(b)(5), 1322.03(r), 1325.07 and all associated variances, special exceptions, and interpretations).
Lot size: 2050 SF (.047 AC) 18.3’ x 112’ RT-High Density Residential Zoning District
2.)
2545 Schoenersville Road (CID# 113-063961) (PID# 641886739542 2)
Appeal of Lehigh Valley Hospital, Inc. for a special exception to permit extension of non-conforming wall signage in connection with an Emergency Department expansion, or alternatively a variance to permit 241.1 SF of wall signage (east elevation) and 116 SF (south elevation) where only 40 SF per wall is permitted. (Sections 1302.91, 1305.01.c, 1320.04(n), 1320.08(a)(14), 1323.04, 1325.06, 1325.07 and all associated variances, special exceptions and interpretations).
Tract Size: 22.514 AC Irregular I – Institutional Zoning District
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 