Forks Township supervisors sit tight on zoning change that would allow apartment complex

The Forks Township Supervisors took no action Thursday night on a zoning ordinance that would have allowed construction of a 420-unit apartment complex off Sullivan Trail.The inaction came when a motion was put before the supervisors to enact a zoning ordinance that would have changed a 38-acre tract from commercial zoning to one permitting a large apartment complex.By not acknowledging a motion for the ordinance, the measure died but a legal proceeding by the apartment complex developer to seek a zoning change called a “curative amendment” will move ahead.Supervisors Chairman John O’Neil said after the meeting that by not acting on the ordinance, It does not take away the curative amendment.’’Before the measure to adopt the ordinance formally came before the supervisors, Supervisor Erick Chuss,I am opposed to it.’’The apartment complex is being proposed by Bethlehem developer Richard Bartolacci and would bring the 420-unit complex on the west side of Sullivan Trail and north of Braden Airpark.The land is zoned commercial but in 2017, Bartolacci filed the “curative amendment” against the township in an effort to force a change of the zoning map.When the amendment was filed, Forks had no areas for apartment building development, but in December 2017 the supervisors did adopt a zoning change allowing for such development in two other areas — one on Sullivan Trail near the municipal building and a second near Newlins Road.At an April supervisors meeting, residents spoke out against the project during which Easton attorney Joel Scheer, who was hired by a group of residents who live near the property, argued that the township had already fulfilled its obligation with the new zoning for apartment development.After the Thursday night meeting, Sheer said he was pleased with the supervisors action because, It would have opened the doors to developers.’’By allowing the curative amendment to proceed, Sheer said it would provide a careful examination of the impact such a development would have on the area.Some of the things that would be examined include the impact on roads, schools, sewer facilities, water supplies and other public facilities.Now there are a lot of options and a lot of considerations,’’ he said of the curative amendment proceeding.Bartolacci has said his proposal would be similar to other high-end apartment projects, such as Madison Farms in Bethlehem Township and Spring View in South Whitehall Township, which feature landscaped plazas and tree-lined sidewalks.In an unrelated matter, the supervisors accepted the resignation of Supervisor Ed Moore, who has been on the board for at least five years.The supervisors have 30 days to appoint a person to fill the slot with a term that would expire at the end of the year.The position will be on the November ballot and those on the ballot would consist of two people appointed by the Democratic and Republican parties.Moore, whose term would have expired in 2021, said he was resigning because he and his wife sold their house in the township and are moving to Easton.I have bittersweet feelings about it … but it has been an absolute honor and privilege to serve the township,’’ he said.Moore, speaking before the supervisors, added that decisions he would lose sleep over were raising taxes and zoning.Raising taxes was always a difficult decision [as well as] zoning. I recognized that whenever we alter the land, that’s permanent,’’ he said.Charles Malinchak is a freelance writer for The Morning Call.
Source: Morningcall