Emmaus, Pennsylvania, a town of 12,000 people

Emmaus, Pennsylvania, a town of 12,000 people 50 miles north of Philadelphia, has enacted an ordinance that enlarges its downtown district and prohibits new fast-food restaurants, convenience stores, and laundromats in this historic area. The law also requires that new buildings have two stories with parking in the rear, and that they be built within eight feet of the property line. Neon signs, chain link fences, and enclosed porches are prohibited. The first redevelopment proposal submitted after the passage of the ordinance has been controversial. The zoning board granted variances to one property owner who wants to replace an existing building with a one-story bakery with a drive-in window and parking in front. The Emmaus Borough Council challenged the board’s decision in court, but the judge upheld the decision.