Dorm plans win approval in Easton
Project opposed by College Hill residents OK’d under new zoning
Lafayette College cleared one of its biggest hurdles Wednesday night when the Easton Planning Commission approved preliminary plans for a controversial four-story, mixed-use residence hall on McCartney Street in College Hill.
First proposed two years ago, the project has been fiercely opposed by residents who said the massive dormitory would change the historic character of the neighborhood.
Easton City Council had approved zoning changes that would allow for the project. The land development and subdivision plans approved Wednesday were the first submitted under that new zoning.
The Planning Commission rejected Lafayette’s original land development plan in September 2017 based on the original zoning, which would have required the college to get additional approvals from the Zoning Hearing Board.
The new zoning allows the project by right, meaning the college does not need approval from the Zoning Hearing Board.
Now all that’s left is for the college to submit a final land development plan to the Planning Commission. The college can then file construction plans with the city’s building department for approval, Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said Thursday.
Commissioners still had concerns because of a lawsuit filed by College Hill residents in June contesting the zoning changes.
Commissioner Robert Sun asked why commissioners were voting on the plan if the zoning changes that allow the project are being challenged in court.
“Why are you asking me as a commission member to rule on something where the ordinance on which this proposal is based is being legally challenged? Why can’t we wait until it is settled?” Sun asked.
City officials have said they are confident the lawsuit will be dismissed.
Attorney Joel Scheer, who represents the Planning Commission, said the College Hill residents who filed the lawsuit had the option of asking the court to put a stay on the project, but chose not to.
He also said that as of now the ordinance is law.
“I believe it was enacted in a valid fashion and I don’t think there’s any validity to the [residents’] appeal,” Scheer said.
Arguments in the case are scheduled for Nov. 27.
There’s a risk Lafayette College could have to scrap the project if a judge finds that Easton did not properly approve the zoning changes, but Panto said he is confident that won’t be the case.
“I think we will prevail. I think everyone agrees the project is now a better project than when they started,” he said.
Commissioners ultimately approved the plans under the condition that they be amended to address recommendations made by the city engineer and forester.
The preliminary plans were approved, 5-2, with Sun and Jamie Kulick voting against. Chairman Charles Elliott and members Bill Carr, William Heilman, Ronald Shipman and Bonnie Winfield voted in favor.
Paul Felder, one of the College Hill residents behind the lawsuit, declined to comment Thursday on the advice of his attorney James Preston of Bethlehem.
Felder and the other residents involved in the case did not attend Wednesday’s meeting.
According to the preliminary plan approved Wednesday, the college plans to consolidate nine lots on McCartney Street and one on March Street to build two four-story, mixed-use dormitory buildings that would accommodate 165 student beds.
Carr asked if there are any architecturally significant elements in the buildings that will be torn down.
Roger Demareski, Lafayette vice president for finance and administration, said an architect is working to identify any historic elements in the buildings that can be salvaged and removed, either to be sold or to be used in future college projects.
The new dorm would include a 7,658-square-foot bookstore, a 4,909-square-foot diner and a coffee shop.
Commission members also discussed parking and suggested signs should be posted around the new building to alert students that they are required to park in Lafayette parking lots.
The project also includes three new crosswalks: At the intersection of High and Marquis streets, the intersection of High and McCartney streets and March and Marquis streets.
New sidewalks will be installed along Marquis and McCartney streets, along with a 90-spot parking lot at Bushkill and Clinton Terrace.
The area proposed for the new dorms is adjacent to Lafayette College’s core campus.
A second, 55-bed dorm known as “1B” had been proposed for Cattell Street, but college officials said they’ve decided not continue with that project at this time.