Sept. 21, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Bethlehem Township agreed Monday to accept $900,000 to allow an out-of-place retaining wall to remain at the intersection of Easton Avenue and Farmersville Road, where medical offices are under construction.
The offices are for St. Luke’s University Health Network.
Developer TSV-HPIII Lehigh Valley conceded earlier that the wall was not in the correct spot, violating township rules. In the agreement to be discussed Monday, the developer agrees “to shift the property line/right-of-way away from the wall so that the wall meets the required zoning setback.”
The retaining wall at 3311 Farmersville Road, just across the street and east of the blue grillhouse, “was erroneously installed at the wrong location,” the meeting agenda.
Some of the $900,000 will go toward work at the intersection to make turning easier and repaving. Earlier, the cost of adjusting the wall was estimated at $400,000.
There won’t be any shifting of Farmersville Road, just the right of way. That led to some questions about what actually was happening. The road will not be as wide as originally intended, and the intersection will be improved with the $900,000. The lanes of Farmersville Road will not be more narrow.
One speaker described the decision as “a dirty work-around.”
Another, Barry Roth, said “This wall should be moved.” He said the developer knew the wall was out of alignment and kept building it anyway. Roth said the impression left is that somebody can “come up with a couple of bucks” and get what they want.
Traffic, paving and tricky intersections are a big topic in the township, where making left turns can be an ordeal.
The vote in favor of taking the $900,000 from developer TSV-HPIII Lehigh Valley was 5-0. The site of the offices was a cement plant many years ago and then sat vacant.
The board also accepted the resignation of township Manager Edward Hozza Jr., who took over in April. Doug Bruce, who served as manager before Hozza, is coming back.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 