Some 30 residents from the Mink Estate area attended last week's Upper Milford supervisors meeting to voice concerns about a sketch plan for some 200 townhouses and twin homes on the Kohler tract, 4475 Mill Road.

The residents questioned what the impact of the plan, presented by Kay Builders, would have on, among other things, traffic and drainage.

Supervisors stressed the proposal is only a sketch plan and there is a long way to go before any action may be taken.

"There are a lot of unanswered questions," supervisors Chairman George DeVault said.

Solicitor Marc Fisher pointed out even before a plan can be presented, supervisors have to decide whether they are interested in purchasing all or part of the approximately 30 acres involved.

While the land is zoned for residences, it is proposed on the comprehensive plan to remain as open space or recreation area.

Resident John Peters said if the land is developed as proposed by Kay, some recreation land would have to be provided in the development.

"You're talking about 200 [residential] units," he said, which could mean about 300 children who would need a place to play outdoors.

Ed Hausman of Champagne Drive asked, "Where are they gonna go with all the water?"

"That's a good question," DeVault said.

Phil Casey asked if there is sufficient sewer capacity for the proposed development and supervisor Robert Sentner responded it is controlled by the Lehigh County Authority.

Other residents warned of the potential impact of increased traffic in the area. Several of the residents had also attended the May 4 planning commission meeting to raise the same concerns about the plan.

And supervisors made clear they're concerned about aspects of the plan as well.

"All it is at this point is a sketch plan," DeVault stressed. "We heard you all loud and clear Monday night [at the Planning Commission]."

In other business May 7, supervisors discussed how they would respond to PennDOT's response to their concerns about traffic and road conditions in the township.

Sentner was particularly concerned about PennDOT's timetable for repaving Route 29. He said he couldn't find it on the agency's plan until 2026, almost 30 years after the last repaving.

"We should tell them their road paving schedule is not acceptable," he said. The board agreed and said they will send a letter to that effect to PennDOT.

But Francis Caputo, in the audience, said that isn't enough. He said township residents have to start calling their state representatives to complain. The politicians need to know a lot of people are unhappy about an issue before they do anything, he argued.

Supervisors also agreed to send a letter to their state representatives opposing House Bill 782, which would require all municipalities who use a third-party inspection agency to contract with at least two agencies to provide inspection services. It also would mandate how municipalities procure professional services.

Township Manager Daniel DeLong said the bill would cost the township extra money and increase the cost of building permits.

DeVault called it "another unfunded mandate."