<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1KTf1A_1GvL05mn00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1KTf1A_1GvL05mn00" width="400" height="225" >BETHLEHEM, N.Y. — More neighbors, more traffic, it’s all coming to the town of Bethlehem. But the challenge is to manage the growth, town leaders say, and the zoning changes designed to do just that continue to be met with resistance from neighbors.<blockquote>“Bethlehem is going to grow, whether we have zoning changes or not,” said David VanLuven, town supervisor. “So I believe it's smart to make improvements to our zoning code.”</blockquote>The town board is closer to a final vote on an overhaul to the zoning code and could set a date for that vote after a Tuesday night public hearing.But neighbors like Colleen Scott worry that the changes will bring more people, more apartments, and more traffic.Over the summer, after complaints from neighbors like Scott, the town board shelved the zoning changes to reassess and make changes.<blockquote>“They have made some concessions and some things that we think are good,” Scott said.</blockquote>VanLuven said one of the changes made was to keep zoning the same near the local school district. A change there could have brought more multifamily homes.“One of the main things that that addresses is traffic,” VanLuven said.But in other parts of town, neighbors worry too many apartment units will be built per acre, due to zoning changes. They also worry there is no cap on the height of some apartment buildings.VanLuven said the board has been taking neighbors’ concerns seriously.<blockquote>“We’ve been listening very carefully to a lot of public input,” he said.</blockquote>Scott’s backyard faces serene farmland, but she knows that can’t last forever.<blockquote>“My backyard, I hope, obviously never changes,” she said. “But I do understand I bought the house with the fact that it could change. So if it changes, we just would want to see the growth, keep pace with what the town can absorb.”</blockquote>The town board will hear from neighbors again Tuesday night. They could decide to pass the new zoning as early as its next meeting later this month.</div></body>

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BETHLEHEM, N.Y. — More neighbors, more traffic, it’s all coming to the town of Bethlehem. But the challenge is to manage the growth, town leaders say, and the zoning changes designed to do just that continue to be met with resistance from neighbors. “Bethlehem is going to grow,...

Bethlehem getting closer to passing controversial zoning changes

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BETHLEHEM, N.Y. — More neighbors, more traffic, it’s all coming to the town of Bethlehem. But the challenge is to manage the growth, town leaders say, and 

Bethlehem getting closer to passing controversial zoning changes

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