Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Bethlehem Planning Commission approved a development plan late Thursday evening that will allow the construction of a new warehouse and industrial/manufacturing facility on former Bethlehem Steel Company land.
The plan, proposed by Majestic Bethlehem Center/Bethlehem Commerce Center LLC, calls for the construction of a 195,494-square-foot facility at 3677 Commerce Blvd. Currently, the site is intended for industrial use.
“It used to be the (Bethlehem) place of steel,” said Robert Melosky, chairman of the planning committee. “We are doing the right thing. They are where they belong.”
The land development plan proposed by Kyle Heidt of Pennoni Associates Inc. describes the uses that have been approved by the Development Board for the northern portion of the site.
According to a map on the Majestic Bethlehem Center website, nearby tenants including Walmart, QVC and Crayola discussed the land as “4B” Thursday night. On the right side of the complex there is a warehouse with an area of ​​833,280 sq. feet, which is currently free and available.
According to Darlene Heller, the city’s director of planning and zoning, construction began several years ago.
“We approved the master plan,” she said, “and they went to individual buildings by lot.”
Initially, the developer thought the tenants needed more space, Heller said. Since then, however, developers have subdivided the properties to accommodate the smaller spaces favored by tenants.
Haidt said the property currently has no tenants, which is the standard for developers.
Planner Matthew Malosi said he supported the plan. Malosi added that as a board member of the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA), he understands that the transport agency wants to improve traffic to the site to accommodate future tenant staff.
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