LAMBERTVILLE: Music shows require zoning OK

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — Musical performances may be coming to Lambertville soon, city officials said after Monday night’s City Council meeting.
   To make that possible, a variance from the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment will be needed.
   Crystal Lawton, zoning board secretary, said Tuesday that the Bridge Street Foundation, owner of the Old Baptist Church on Bridge Street, is expected to appear before the Zoning Board of Adjustment in August or September with a formal application to use the church for the musical performances.
   The Bridge Street Foundation is the same organization that saved and revitalized the Bucks County Playhouse. It plans to create a not-for-profit music hall in Lambertville.
   ”The group funded the purchase of the First Baptist Church late in 2011 with the hopes that they would be able to create a community music facility with the mission to become an active, vital arts center for the enrichment of the community and surrounding area,” said a spokeswoman. “This facility is intended to complement the activities of the Bucks County Playhouse. However, the entities will have distinct identities, management and will not compete with one another.”
   ”Both initiatives are in line with the mission and vision of the Bridge Street Foundation,” stated Tanya Cooper, president, “to support the local community through the acquisition of important historic landmarks and assist these landmarks in their transition into becoming self-sustaining contributors to the arts, entertainment and related education programs in community.”
   ”As was accomplished in New Hope, we hope that our investment in this Lambertville venue will contribute economically to Lambertville and additionally the surrounding area,” she said.
   ALSO at Monday night’s meeting, a $795,000 bond ordinance that will pay $700,000 for the drainage work, plus $95,000 for work on Ely Park, was adopted by City Council, Clerk Cindy Ege said.
   ”We’ve already done drainage work on the lower part of South Franklin Street,” Mayor David Del Vecchio said. “The work we can do under this bond will help not only South Franklin Street residents, but Main Street residents, with the problem of water coming down off a hill into their neighborhoods.”
   Officials say the drainage problem has been so severe at times that back yards have been “washed out” in that part of town.
   A Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission grant of $248,365 will pay for the drainage work. This will cover the preliminary engineering work for the drainage project. Passed by council June 25 was a resolution authorizing Mayor Del Vecchio Clerk Ege to sign the grant agreement.
   The state Department of Transportation (DOT) will cover another $170,000 of the drainage project, Ms. Ege said. That leaves the balance to be covered by the city at $281,635.
   Of the $95,000 portion of the $795,000 bond that will be spent on Ely Park upgrades, $50,000 would be for lighting and $45,000 for improvements to the parking lot, Ms. Ege said.