To the Editor:

Two large land developers, Charles Chrin with 689 acres in Palmer Township and Jaindl with 772 acres in Lower Macungie Township are worthy of a comparison.

Chrin, over a period of years bought his land on the open market with a vision. The Chrin development for an industrial park with large warehouse will not have a major impact on local roads. Trucks will use Route 33 via the new interchange.

Jaindl purchased 474 acres, on the cheap, after the township re-zoned the land. The re-zoning in 1988 from residential use to one house per 10 acres confiscated the value of farmers' land.

In 1989, Jaindl purchased 232 acres; 37 acres in 1994, 96 acres in 1997, 29 acres in 1999, 78 acres in 2004.

Lower Macungie received money from the transfer tax on each sale yet did nothing.

The joint planning commission developed the new zoning ordinance for Lower Macungie Township. The joint planning commission had to review the new ordinance.

In 1987, Olev Taremae, a senior joint planning commission planner, wrote a letter stating he was not in favor of the restrictive land changes.

Jaindl owned 772 acres when he negotiated a settlement with the township for a change of use, resulting in the current debacle.

To me it is interesting how one township, Palmer Township, could be so visionary. And another, Lower Macungie Township, under former commissioners, is so flawed. Today Lower Macungie Township now has warehouses with hundreds of tractor trailers moving daily on local roads before they enter Interstate 78.

Lower Macungie Township today has another major problem which they are unwilling to resolve.

What do you do with the many farms owned by others next to the Jaindl land? This land is still zoned one house per 10 acres or one house per three acres.

The Chrin business trash to excavating to land developmenthas evolved.

There were three Chrin brothers, Nick, Charlie and Pete. I worked with them in the '60s. They had a social conscience.

Ira Lehrich

retired builder

Macungie