Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission discussed multiple development projects in the township at its Oct. 11 meeting.

The first land development project discussed was on 7386 and 7368 Alburtis Road. The land consisted of two properties which would be combined to form a Mosque and house for the clergy to stay in. Nearby churches in the area offered overflow parking for special events.

Part of the property is in a flood plain. One disagreement was in regard to a greenhouse on a 100-year flood plain. The property owners want to keep the greenhouse because it was part of their plan to educate their children about green living, but are willing to fill in a swimming pool on the property. The planning commission wants to eliminate the greenhouse because it is horizontal to a 100-year flood plain.

“Having a metal frame and plastic to stop the flow of water doesn’t make much sense to me,” Planning Board Chair Maury Robert said.

The second topic discussed involved a number of businesses at 5354 Hamilton Blvd. One of the issues discussed was how to consolidate access of the signal on Hamilton Boulevard to all of the future businesses on the south side of the street.

The planning commission also discussed a conditional use plan for Lot 5 of the Spring Creek Estates property. The plan is for a day care center to be built on the property. The plan meets the one acre minimum and the parking and layout are acceptable.

The day care plans to cater to infant and preschool children and would not offer before and after-school care. All the utility laterals including the sewer system are in place. Safety would not be an issue in the day care parking lot, according to the day care representatives, since children are walked into the center by their parents instead of being dropped off on the curb.

The day care representatives explained because parents would come to pick up their children during a 3-hour window, there is not usually a large amount of traffic at any one time. The daycare has the parking lot buffered and has plans to use natural colored LED lights.

The planning commission approved the conditional use plan on two conditions. The first condition prevented school bus service in the parking lot and the second requested parking spaces for drop off and short term parking be clearly labeled.

The day care decided to table the discussion until the next meeting because they wanted to consider changing the age groups they serve or find a way to allow small buses in the parking lot in the future.

Another item discussed at the planning commission meeting concerned a small number of houses as part of a subdivision/preliminary-final plan for 7804 Sweetwood Drive. The properties meet the minimum lot size. One concern the Planning Commission had centered around the homes shared access to Sweetwood Drive. One of the issues discussed was a bus stop for the school children living on the land in question. There was also a discussion about having an asphalt path or sidewalk along the road. There was a decision to table discussion of the plan until next month.

The final project discussed was Jersey Mike’s Subs. The restaurant, which would hold 36 seats and offer sufficient parking, is planning to open in the Trexlertown Shopping Center. The restaurant’s conditional use plan passed with one objection from George Doughty.