Planners OK Stefano’s redevelopment, South Side Wawa, AutoZone
Several decades-old buildings in Bethlehem’s south and north sides may soon be replaced with a Wawa, an AutoZone auto parts store and a new building for Linden Street’s Stefano’s restaurant.
The three projects went before the city Planning Commission on Thursday night, with each being granted approvals for specific parts of the developments.
The Wawa convenience store is set to be constructed on Route 412 on the 1.8-acre site occupied by the shuttered Chris’s Restaurant, a former hot spot for dining by steelworkers.
According to the plans submitted by Wawa, construction will include a 5,585-square-foot store, eight gas pumps covered with a canopy, 55 parking spaces and a small space set aside for a sign announcing the area as the gateway to Bethlehem.
Wawa attorney James Holzinger said the space, at the southern end of the lot, would be provided as a 30-year land easement to be maintained by the city.
The commission approved the Wawa land development plan along with the formation of a committee to determine the contents and style of the welcome sign.
Commission Chairman Robert Melosky said the committee will consist of two members from the city art commission, along with a Wawa representative and the former owner of Chris’s Restaurant.
Holzinger said Wawa would contribute up to $20,000 for the sign.
Another gateway welcome sign on the city’s South Side cost $50,000, which came from a state grant, but Holzinger said the amount they are willing to contribute is based on, ‘’The cost for us to design, manufacture and install it.’’
‘’We do want to do this [the sign design] with the spirit of cooperation,’’ he said.
Commission member Tom Barker said, ‘’I would like to see the end result. The commission should be able to say yes or no to it.’’
The second project reviewed by the commission was the construction of an AutoZone at Five Points, the intersection of Broadway and Wyandotte streets.
According to plans submitted to the commission, construction would include demolishing a closed transmission shop that has sat on the corner for more than three decades along with three homes.
A key issue discussed by the commission and the developer was allowing left turns from southbound Wyandotte Street or Route 378 onto the property by way of Sheets Street.
Melosky said the left is not prohibited now because the street is not a significant traffic route, but it would likely he more heavily used once the store is in place.
That, he said, would likely create a traffic backup at the busy Five Points intersection.
The project has come before
the commission before and in those reviews an AutoZone representative said the company has made the effort to create a building to complement the architecture of the area.
However, traffic engineer Dave Horner, representing the company, said, ‘’Fundamentally, the intersection is in need of redevelopment and to have a no left turn would be a nonstarter.’’
“This [the no left turn from southbound Wyandotte Street]
is a big deal for any development at this intersection,” he said.
City Planning Director Darlene Heller said the McDonald’s restaurant, located near the intersection on Wyandotte, has turn restrictions.
“If McDonald’s can function, why wouldn’t this? People will find a way,” she said.
The commission approved the company’s land development plan with the condition of a review by PennDOT which
Melosky said would make the decision as to whether the left turn would be permitted.
The final project before the commission was the redevelopment of 2.8 acres at 2958 and 2970 Linden St., a site occupied by Stefano’s restaurant.
Developer Dwayne Wagner told the commission the project would involve demolishing the existing restaurant, along with an adjacent rental home.
Once demolished, he said a new 2,400-square-foot restaurant would be constructed fronting Linden Street and a 61-unit, four-story apartment building in the rear.
The commission approved the development’s preliminary sketch plan.
Earlier this month, Stefano Lombardo said he and his wife, Patricia, planned to sell the property to SETNOM Enterprises LLC of Northampton and operate a scaled-down version of their 40-year-old Italian restaurant.
He said the decision to sell the land and run a smaller business was the result of the impact the pandemic has had on the restaurant and rising taxes. He said he already pays $25,000 per year in taxes and expects that to rise to $30,000 next year.