Developers Sketch drawing of proposed development. Route 22 is the northern boundary (top of page, below the blue box), Township Line road is the Western Boundary (left side of green area), and the Monocacy Creek is to the South (bottom of green area). From WFMZ.com.
A Lakewood New Jersey company will be petitioning Bethlehem City Council and Bethlehem
Township Council to build a 67-house development with 19 homes on the Bethlehem side ( County-
Line / Altonah only entrance) and 48 homes on the hill behind the large spring and farmhouse. The
development will be across the railroad tracks from Monocacy Creek and the Archibald Johnson
Conservation area. This development will be built on the high ground over 3 of the largest springs on the Monocacy Creek.
THE ISSUES:
Traffic:
This development has only one entrance - from the 2- lane County-Line / Altonah road, just south of a very tight restriction bridge under HWY 22, and across the Monocacy Creek bridge from two very narrow width and tightly restricted Altonah road hill, and Santee Mill road along Monocacy creek. Neither of these roads can handle the additional traffic and support truck requirements such as fire trucks, garbage trucks, moving trucks, as well as the private cars for 67 single family dwellings.
Environmental Impacts:
The slope o f the property and location over 3 major springs feeding the Monocacy is a threat to water quality and the ecosystem in the following ways: Increased run-off from an increase in pavement roof tops etc, can increase silt levels in the creek, and create warming, which has proven to decrease oxygen levels necessary to support fish and aquatic insects. The PA Fish Commission recognizes the Monocacy as one of the few streams in a suburban area with a rising population o f wild brown trout, which requires very clean and cold water. Run-off from pesticides and fertilizers used on yards of 67 houses, and high temperatures and reduced water retention of paved roads will have an immediate negative impact. Any increase in stormwater runoff will have a compounding effect on flooding in downstream areas that have already experienced a rise in high water events. While more water will be entering the stream, the amount of water being absorbed into the ground will be deceasing, which often leads to sinkholes occurring in areas they had not before. Spaces under the ground that were once filled with water will now be empty, which leads to a collapse of the surface layers, impacting roads, sewer lines and other critical infrastructure. Lastly, the development would be located just upstream of the ‘Class A Wild Trout Stream’ section of the stream. This section holds a large number of wild, naturally reproducing Brown Trout, which should be protected from any actual or potential decrease in water quality.
Action Items:
1. Show up at the Bethlehem City Planning Commission meetings (And Township)
The Bethlehem Township Planning Commission:
• When: Fourth Monday of each month
• Time: 7:00 PM
• Where: Main Meeting Room.
Bethlehem Township Municipal Building
(Bethlehem Township, Northampton County.
PA)
City of Bethlehem Planning Commission:
Regular Meeting Schedule
• When: Typically once per month, usually on
a Thursday
• Time: 5:00 PM
• Where: Bethlehem Town Hall,
10 East Church Street, Bethlehem, P A 18018
Meeting dates can shift due to holidays or
cancellations, so the City recommends using the
official Planning & Zoning calendar.
https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/calendar-
planning-zoning bethlehem-pa
2. Write a letter - AND - Call the Mayor of Bethlehem: J William Reynolds > 10 East Church Street,
Bethlehem, PA 18018. Phone 610 865 7130. https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/Meet-Your-
Government/The-Mayor/Biography
3. Write and call Bethlehem Township planning commission. Contact the Board of Commissioners
and the 5-member Planning Commission.
Subdivision and Land Development Plan Review - Planning - Bethlehem Township Community
Development 4225 Easton Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18020 > > 610-814-6400
Follow on Instagram
