Council rejects Referral of Bill 82 - Affordable Housing, 1–3

Referral of Bill 82 - Affordable Housing

1 yes, 3 no

Ce-Ce Gerlach (yes), Jeremy Binder (no), Cristian Pungo (no), Candida Affa (no)

R151 - Contract Increase - Franklin Park Design

6 yes, 0 no

R152 - Cooperative Contract - General Recreation, Inc.

6 yes, 0 no

Bill 83 - Dog Park Amendment

6 yes, 0 no

R153 - Historic District Certificates of Appropriateness

6 yes, 0 no

R154 - Board and Commission Appointments

6 yes, 0 no

R155 - Legal Representation (FOP Lawsuit)

6 yes, 0 no

R156 - Fund Transfers (IT and Parks)

6 yes, 0 no

A-2026-00712 702 Hamilton St — variance and modification of 2025 decision for college/university use

3 yes, 0 no

A-2026-00547 170 W Allen St — interpretation: banquet hall is a restaurant use

3 yes, 0 no

A-2026-00559 212 S Dauphin St — variance to allow child care center attached to dwelling units

0 yes, 3 no

702 Hamilton Street — modification of 2025 decision and dimensional variance for Jefferson medical school use

0 yes, 0 no

170 West Allen Street — use interpretation as banquet hall

0 yes, 0 no

212 South Dauphin Street — denial of variance for child care center attached to dwelling units

0 yes, 0 no

702 Hamilton St — Jefferson Medical College Campus

702 Hamilton St, Allentown, PA

A dimensional variance and modification of the 2025 demolition decision to let Jefferson's anatomy department occupy the first 20 feet of the Hamilton Street facade, with restaurant/retail kept on the 7th Street corner.

approved · still approved

515 N 6th St Window and Porch Work

515 N 6th St

A request to legalize window replacements and front porch work already completed at 515 N. 6th St, a property in the historic review district.

Discussed — no decision yet

170 W. Allen St Banquet Facility

170 W. Allen St, Allentown, PA

An appeal of the zoning officer's classification, resolved by interpreting the proposed event venue as a banquet hall within the restaurant category — a use permitted by right.

approved · still approved

212 S. Dauphin St Child Care Center

212 S. Dauphin St, Allentown, PA

A proposed 54-child day care in a former electrician's office and warehouse that also holds two apartments was denied because the ordinance bars child care centers attached to structures with dwelling units.

denied · still denied

Child care center variance denied on South Dauphin Street

A proposal for a 54-child day care serving families from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. was denied because the zoning ordinance bars child care centers attached to buildings with apartments. Smaller family or group child care options remain available by right.

What it means: Neighbors of the mixed-use building avoid added traffic from simultaneous drop-offs of 54 children.

Mixed-Use Redevelopment at 300 Hamilton Street

Thomas Jefferson University is leasing 70,000 square feet downtown for its Lehigh Valley medical school campus — up to 240 students and 175 faculty, in a 24/7 building. The variance lets anatomy labs reach the Hamilton Street facade, with restaurant space kept on the 7th Street corner.

What it means: A multi-decade lease on 70,000 square feet represents a major private investment in downtown Allentown, with foot traffic expected to support nearby businesses.

West Residences Mixed-Use Development at 2 Allen Street

A vacant former social hall would reopen for private parties, weddings, and community events with 116-person capacity, closing by 10 or 11 p.m. Neighbors worry about parking for large gatherings and a return of past noise and litter problems near an elementary school.

What it means: Community members seeking affordable event space and the property owner benefit from reopening the hall.

Historic District Property Alterations

A property owner is asking the HARB to legalize window replacements and front porch work that were done without prior historic approval. The case shows how the board handles retroactive reviews in the historic district.

What it means: The property owner gains a path to legal, permitted status for completed work.

Child care center blocked by attachment restriction

A 54-child day care was proposed across from an elementary school, but the zoning ordinance flatly bars child care centers attached to buildings with dwelling units. The board denied the variance, saying smaller family or group child care homes remain allowed.

What it means: The owner's building stays vacant or must find another use; families lose a proposed 54-child day care option.

Banquet Facility Proposal at 170 Allen St

Neighbors near the former social hall at 170 W. Allen say large gatherings brought broken bottles, trash, and noise, and worry 15 parking spots can't serve 116-person events.

What it means: The property owner and community members wanting affordable space for weddings, birthdays, and celebrations.

Thomas Jefferson University medical school downtown

Jefferson's Sidney Kimmel Medical College will take 70,000+ square feet at 702 Hamilton, bringing up to 240 students and 155-175 faculty downtown. The zoning relief lets the anatomy labs occupy the Hamilton Street frontage while restaurant/retail wraps the prominent Seventh Street corner.

What it means: Downtown businesses, landlords, and the city's tax base get a 24/7 institutional anchor and steady foot traffic.

2027 Capital Projects Budget and Capital Planning Reform

Council introduced the 2027 capital budget and a separate ordinance (from Binder and Mota) to make the capital planning process clearer and more public. Both head to committee.

What it means: The 2027 capital budget figures will be detailed at committee meetings.

Council legal defense in FOP lawsuit

The police union has sued City Council, and Council will vote on hiring Cozen O'Connor to represent it. Legal costs and the underlying dispute could affect city finances and labor relations.

What it means: Members of City Council facing the suit.

School zone flasher upgrades at 26 locations

A $1.9 million grant will upgrade school zone flashers at 26 locations across the city. The bill was introduced and will get a public hearing at a special committee on November 18.

What it means: Funded entirely by a $1.9 million federal TASA grant — no new city money mentioned.

Dog park rule changes

Bill 83 would update the dog park ordinance — renaming the park, eliminating key fobs, and refreshing the rules for users.

What it means: Dog owners who use the park, who would no longer need key fobs.

Cable franchise agreements with RCN and Verizon

New ordinances would authorize cable franchise agreements with RCN and Verizon — the deals that let these providers operate in the city right-of-way. Both go to the November 11 special committee.

What it means: Cable and internet customers in Allentown whose providers' franchises are renewed.

Budget Process Reform and Timeline Adjustments

Bill 89 would write down clear, public capital planning procedures under the Home Rule Charter, developed jointly by the administration and Council staff.

What it means: Residents who want clearer visibility into how capital projects are planned and funded.

FOP Lawsuit Against City Council

The police union (Queen City FOP Lodge No. 10) has sued city council, and council hired outside attorney David L. Hackett of Cozen O'Connor to defend it.

What it means: Council members get professional legal defense in the union suit.

Franklin Park improvements design contract

Council added $55,450 to the design contract for the Franklin Park upgrades, bringing the total design contract with Simone Collins Inc. to $221,900. The park improvements move one step closer to construction.

What it means: The city is spending an extra $55,450, for a total design contract of $221,900.

Affordable Housing Bill (Bill 82) Continued

The affordable and workforce housing bill was sent back to the November 11 special meeting, with proposed changes to be posted on the agenda before discussion.

What it means: Potentially residents seeking affordable and workforce housing, depending on the final bill.

W. Emaus Avenue Data Center Conversion

The city is moving its IT operations from the old public safety building to 1304 Fairview Street, and $91,167.61 will pay to run fiber cables connecting the new server location to other city sites.

What it means: $91,167.61 was transferred within the Information Systems budget.

Cedar Pool Repairs

$12,500 in parks money will repair the water line at Cedar Pool and replace partitions in the change room that were damaged during the season.

What it means: $12,500 was transferred for pool repairs.

Recreation Bureau Updates and Project Reviews

The dog park ordinance got final approval: the park got a name update, the key fob access system is gone, and the rules were refreshed.

What it means: Dog owners using the park, who no longer need key fobs.

Police and Fire Department Civil Service Lists

The certification of police eligibility lists determines who Allentown can hire as patrol officers and promote to Assistant Chief. It directly affects police staffing levels and department leadership.

What it means: Police staffing and promotion prospects, and residents relying on police coverage.

Police Promotional Testing and Scoring Rubrics

The board will discuss a contract template for outside testing services that run police promotional exams — the process behind future promotions.

What it means: Officers seeking promotion and the police department's promotion pipeline.