Planners Approve Law Office for 148 Main Street

A borough lawyer told the Hellertown Planning Commission Aug. 9 that he plans to move his law practice from one Main Street building to another, in order to have a more permanent location in town.

Following the planning commission's unanimous decision to approve the proposed new location of his law office at 148 Main Street, David M. Backenstoe appeared pleased, and said there would be "absolutely no changes" to the recently renovated former home that is just north of .

Backenstoe's current office is located at 514 Main Street, but his landlord will require use of the space in the near future, he explained.

He decided to keep his practice in Hellertown because he wanted to remain a part of the community, he added.

"I've been happy here," Backenstoe said. "I want to stay."

Borough Zoning and Codes Enforcement Officer Joe Chernaskey characterized Backenstoe's decision to remain a part of the borough business community as a "win-win situation for Hellertown," because his office will occupy a building that was renovated by the owners of a local business.

The historic single-family home is "very unique for Hellertown," he said. "They purchased this building to renovate it and did an amazing job inside."

Borough Engineer Bryan Smith pointed out that the property itself is unique because it has frontage on both Main and Front streets, which is unusual.

"It is a permitted use--a law office--in this district," he said of the proposal.

The district in which the law office will be located is a Mixed Zoning District.

Backenstoe told planners that he expects his "small practice" to have little impact on the surrounding neighborhood, since his office staff consists of only himself and a secretary.

In addition, he said, he expects there to be minimal traffic from clientele.

"I do a lot of municipal law so I don't have a lot of day traffic, to be honest with you," Backenstoe said.