The Lower Macungie Planning Commission met April 12 to discuss the Trexler Business Center and the state of the Beit Simcha Synagogue.

The Trexler Business Center, a Jaindl Land Company project, is set to neighbor Walmart, Bastian Carpet One and Hamilton Animal Care and will contain a total of five new building structures. Movie Tavern is the only guaranteed store at this time.

Concerns over landscaping, lighting and the safety rails surrounding the proposed pond were discussed.

Jaindl has spoken with Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority and the bus shelter design has been both modified and passed by all parties. Though no lighting plans have been set in stone, Jaindl representatives noted LED lights were being considered for the parking lot in an effort to reduce light pollution and to keep the light focused within the 17-acre property.

Citizen Linda Dallas, of Macungie, gave her opinion on LED lighting, suggesting Jaindl consider yellow LED lights versus the blue LED lights, due to health concerns. Dallas mentioned studies have shown blue lights, particularly those lit at night, can affect a human’s circadian rhythm and therefore a person’s sleep pattern. Jaindl representatives said they will take this information into account for future discussion.

The original design had 4-foot guard rail and shadow box fencing surrounding the vertical drop pond. After deliberation, the planning commission decided a six-foot chain link fence would be safer, mentioning safety should take priority.

Additional concerns were raised regarding traffic in the surrounding neighborhood, specifically the Shepherd Hills neighborhood on the other side of the Shepherd Hills Golf Club property. Two residents of the neighborhood, Michelle Davis and Kristen Downey, spoke to the committee as well as the Jaindl representatives about their concerns regarding traffic on Krocks Road and the development of the new buildings. Davis mentioned she had not heard about the proposed plans until a few days prior to the meeting.

Downey’s main concern regarded appearance. Movie Tavern is slated to stand 41 feet tall. Jaindl plans to put up fencing between the golf course and the required 50-foot land buffer already planned in the design. A tree buffer was proposed but no final decision was made.

Proper street striping and signage will be discussed next month, as well as lighting. Additional study will be done on the surrounding sycamore trees. With the current design, eight trees are slated to be removed along Hamilton Boulevard, along both south and north sides.

A left turning lane was added to the intersection design in order to reduce potential congestion.

Beit Simcha Synagogue has been approved and will be moving into the planning and zoning stages of development. Items asked to be kept in mind include parking space, lighting and the pre-existing trees.

The planning commission will hold a workshop 7 p.m. April 20 in the township building. There will also be a hearing for residents regarding the new official map, though a date is not set as of now.