The Salisbury Township Planning Commission again tabled a minor subdivision, pending the disposition of a street never built.

The planners voted 6-0, with one planner absent at the Oct. 14 meeting, to table the plan of 0229 Ventures, LLC, which was submitted by Benchmark Civil Engineering Services, Inc.

The preliminary-final minor subdivision plan along Salisbury Road and Stanley Avenue on the township's east side proposes to subdivide one existing residential parcel along Salisbury Road into two parcels in addition to consolidating two parcels and an existing paper alley into one parcel.

Two single homes would be built along Salisbury Road. Remodeling of an existing house is expected to be completed in about six weeks.

If vacated, the street area is expected to go to the Stanley Avenue property, which would conform to zoning requirements.

The subdivision plan is in the township's R-4 Medium Density Residential Zoning District. There is access to public water and sewer service.

Salisbury Township Consulting Engineer David J. Tettemer told planners during the approximate 45-minute discussion he would not recommend approval until the status of the street is resolved. Planners agreed.

Planners approved four waivers to the plan by identical 6-0 votes at the Oct. 14 meeting. Stephen J. McKitish, Jr., planning commission vice chair, made the motion to vote on the waivers. The motion was seconded by planning commission member Dr. William R. Licht.

The plan was also tabled at the August planners' meeting. The plan is expected to be considered for approval at next month's planners' meeting, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11, once the status of the street is resolved.

Consideration of a vote on the status of the street, which is technically known as a "paper street" because it only exists as a concept on a map, was not on the agenda of the Oct. 23 township board of commissioners' meeting. Disposition of the status of streets must be approved at the township commissioner level.

At the Oct. 23 commissioners' meeting, Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano said the status of the street is expected to be on the agenda of the next commissioners' meeting, 7 p.m. Nov. 6 in the township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Avenue.

If approved, that could clear the way for a vote on the subdivision plan at the Nov. 11 planners' meeting, also in the municipal building meeting room.

A letter from Salisbury Township Director of Planning and Zoning Cynthia Sopka, who was not at the Oct. 14 planners' meeting, noted the plan's expiration date was extended to Nov. 30.

At the Oct. 14 meeting, Tettemer outlined his Oct. 8 letter to planners, which included 16 comments.

Planners voted to approve waivers for three drafting aspects of the plan: showing existing contours 100 feet from the site, showing the change in slope on the site, and side lot lines not perpendicular to the street.

The right-of-way is 30 feet. Required is 50 feet.

To resolve the right-of-way requirement, there will be a building setback of five feet, which, Tettemer said, is more in keeping with existing properties along Salisbury Road.

The additional five feet could provide for future widening of the road.

A 30-foot cartway width is required. There is 26.6 feet. Tettemer said he would have no objection to this. There are existing curbs.

Planning Commission member Glenn Miller asked for an explanation of the cartway. Tettemer explained the roadway will not actually increase because of the curb.

"The only thing here is that they're not pushing the curb back," Tettemer said. "So, there's an opportunity to move it later."

Tettemer said he would have no objection to a deferral for sidewalks along Salisbury Road since none exist in the immediate area of the site.

Another matter resolved was a plan to place two street trees along the street and three other trees on the lot, which Tettemer recommended as a partial deferral because five shade trees are required along the street.

There is one existing tree along the street and two others on the property, one of which Tettemer said was not depicted on the plan. One or more of the trees would likely be cut down to make way for construction.

A letter of review approval for the subdivision must be received from the Lehigh County Conservation District. "It's very minor in the amount of earth disturbance," Tettemer said.

Atty. Bernard M. Telatovich, vice president, Benchmark Civil Engineering Services, Inc., represents the developer, 0229 Ventures, LLC, at the planners' meetings.

A sketch plan for the subdivision was presented at the June planners' meeting.