Easton lifts restrictions in zoning law, prompting a mixed response
“Revamping these codes and making them coherent will create a clarity and understanding that will support more quality renovations.”
Easton City Council approved a series of changes to its zoning law designed to ease certain restrictions for developers, a move that residents and some planning commissioners fear will lead to development that does not fit with the city’s historic character.
Under the ordinance adopted Wednesday, the allowable footprint of downtown buildings doubles from 8,000 square feet to 16,000 square feet. Other measures allow for more impermeable surfaces and remove “context-sensitive design standards” that require new buildings to conform with surrounding development.
Opponents of the changes included City Councilman David O’Connell, who was the lone dissenter in a 6-1 vote, planning commission Chairman Charles Elliott and state Rep. Bob Freeman, DNorthampton, one of the original architects of Easton’s zoning code.
When the public learned of the proposed zoning changes in November, some residents expressed concern that the updates would permanently alter the look of Easton’s historic neighborhoods.
But the city’s original zoning law, written in 2007, contained “conflicting and ambiguous language”
— Mark Calafatello, local developer
that forced developers to seek variances, and the changes better reflect modern development practices and the city’s vision for downtown revitalization, according to Easton Zoning Director Stephen Nowroski.
On Wednesday, O’Connell relayed his constituents’ fears of larger developers coming into the city and “holding the city hostage for the projects they want to do.”
At its June 30 meeting, council delayed voting on the changes after O’Connell introduced amendments that would have kept the maximum building footprint at 8,000 square feet.
City attorney Joel Scheer told council that O’Connell’s amendments were a significant enough change that the city would need to restart its planning process — which began roughly six months ago — before considering them, or else face a potential legal challenge over procedure.
Mayor Sal Panto Jr., who backed Nowroski’s proposed changes, noted that the city already has many properties that have a footprint larger than 8,000 square foot and thus do not follow city code. He says the new ordinance removes inconsistencies and provides a blueprint for responsible development.
“I think we put this in place and it’s the beginning of our work, certainly not the end,” Panto said.
Addressing council members Wednesday, local developer Mark Calafatello praised city planners for updating what he considered to be a confusing and convoluted ordinance.
“Revamping these codes and making them coherent will create a clarity and understanding that will support more quality renovations,” Calafatello said, adding that he also supports expanding the allowable square footage for downtown buildings.
Peter Blanchard is a freelance writer for The Morning Call.