Zoners Approve West Ward Religious Store

The long vacant shop at 717 Northampton St. will soon by occupied by a boutique selling religious items, after it was unanimously granted approval for the use by Easton's Zoning Hearing Board Monday evening.

Property owner Rosa Munoz plans to run the shop herself four days a week, Wednesday through Saturday, from about 10 a.m. to around 6:30 p.m., she told the board.

The shop will sell candles, rosaries, statues and other religious items, she added.

No construction will be necessary, as the space was formerly a retail location.

Members of the zoning hearing board noted the use was permitted by special exception, and noted it's former retail status clearly indicated the space, at street level with apartments above, is best suited for that purpose.

In the 800 block of Lehigh Street, two attached property proposals were granted unanimous board approval as well Monday.

Lawyers Adam Meshkov and Eleanor Breslin, owners of 828-830 Lehigh St., which is zoned for commercial use, have occupied the building with their law firm's offices since purchasing the property late last year, but have been unsuccessful in renting the upper floor offices due to accessibility issues and an impractical office layout, Breslin testified. She added the building was originally a residence.

“That's when we decided we'd rather just live there,” she said.

The couple plans to keep their law office on the first floor and convert the second and third floors into their home. The building was converted into three residential rental units in 1946 before being turned into law offices, she said, adding that it still has two outdated kitchens from the old apartments on the second and third floors.

“Using this house, we feel, is more in keeping with its historic use,” Breslin said. “We feel the impact on the community would be less because it would just be us.”

A two-story carriage house garage that occupies 828 Lehigh St. was proposed to be converted into a single-unit rental. The structure is in a state of major disrepair and is in need of total restoration, Breslin said, adding that years of water damage has left the interior ceiling in danger of falling and there is grass growing on the second floor.

“It is a beautiful structure. I think it needs to be saved,” she said. “It can't be rented as a garage in its current state.”

The parcel is not much larger than the garage, and the building is built on the property line, limiting access to the back of the property without passing through an adjacent one, though it is reachable through the companion parcel at 830 next door.

Off-street parking for two cars would be in front of the dwelling.

Attached to the two Lehigh St. zoning board approvals are the stipulations that the law office and residence must remain so if sold, and that the rental at 828 may not be sold apart from the attached parcel at 830.

Breslin and Meshkov agreed, adding that they weren't sure they'd rent the space at all, but perhaps use it as a guest house for visiting relatives.

“It seems to me the neighbors will be happy to have (the garage) fixed,” zoning hearing board member Pamela Panto said.