A development of 77 townhouses has been proposed in the vicinity of Cypress Avenue in Salisbury Township near the municipal border with the City of Allentown.

The township planning commission reviewed a sketch plan for Sheffield Square Townhouses, to be constructed on 10.4 acres along East Lynnwood Street, South Albert Street and Cypress Avenue in an R-4, Medium Density Residential Zoning District. A sketch plan does not require action to be taken by planners.

Soheir “Sue” Kandil, P.E., of Jena Engineering, Allentown, and Ralph Ford, of Planland LLC, West Berlin, N.J., briefed planners in an approximate one-hour presentation and discussion. About 10 township residents attended the Feb. 14 meeting. Several of the residents in attendance voiced concerns about the project.

Concerns include the impact of more residences on storm sewer and sanitary sewer capacity; worsening of stormwater runoff problems residents claim plague Cypress Avenue; impact of increased traffic on streets in the vicinity of the development; public or private dedication, snow removal, municipal refuse service and emergency vehicle access of a street planned to bisect the development, and proposed extension of Wayne Avenue and widening of Lynnwood.

Salisbury Township Consulting Engineer David J. Tettemer, P.E., of Keystone Consulting Engineers, Wescosville, read from a review letter of 30 comments, several of which he reviewed.

The plan would need to be reviewed by the township zoning hearing board if a proposed through-street is dedicated to the township because that would create three lots, according to Tettemer, and would introduce “issues of parking, density and impervious surfaces.”

Other points reviewed by Tettemer include the requirement for 10 percent of the development to be dedicated as open space in lieu of a township recreation fee; width of the proposed new street, which is 28 feet when the minimum requirement is 30 feet; sidewalk and curb requirements on both sides of the new street and street trees requirements and the placement of them with respect to allowing a wider grass area along the street.

Salisbury Township Director of Planning and Zoning Cynthia Sopka read from her letter, noting, “From my understanding there’s a high-water table in the area [of the proposed townhouse development]. I did hear from a lot of residents,” Sopka added concerning the townhouses proposal.

Salisbury Township Fire Inspector Dustin Grow was not present, but submitted a letter with concerns about a fire-apparatus turn-around area, location of fire hydrants and recommended a fire-alarm system.

The townhouse plan has off-street parking for its residents with no-parking signs to be placed along the new through-street.

“I can see this being a big problem five years down the road,” Planner Richard Schreiter said of vehicles parked along the new street.

“What we are trying to do is discourage through-traffic,” Kandil said.

“Are you planning on donating the road to the township?” Tettemer asked. “You have to go before zoning. You may want to consider keeping the road private.”

Kandil said there would be a homeowners association, which could maintain the street if it remains private.

Among residents living in the vicinity of the proposed townhouses, Daniel Serfass, a retired Allentown streets supervisor, expressed several concerns, including that of stormwater.

“That box culvert cannot handle that water,” Serfass said.

“Most people [in the vicinity of the proposed townhouses] have water in their basements,” Serfass claimed. “You dig down three feet and you get water.”

Estimating approximately two cars per housing unit, Serfass also said the volume of traffic generated at peak times daily could pose a problem.

Township Commissioner Debra Brinton and her husband, Don, who live along Cypress Avenue, also spoke.

“We get water in the basement all the time,” Don Brinton said. “There’s people who’ve had sewage back up in their basements,” he added. He also objected to the extending of Wayne Avenue.

Said Debra Brinton, “Sometimes Cypress Avenue looks like a river. It’s so bad that the street out front is broken up.”

Brian Yakaitis, sales manager, Blacktop Sealing Corp., 701 E. Montgomery St., said, “My gate will have to be relocated” if Wayne Avenue is extended.

Another resident, Bill Vitalos, said, “The sewage capacity has to be addressed.”

“I’ve had six inches of stormwater in my basement,” Leonard Frack, a nearby resident said.

“The township is trying to figure out what is causing that stormwater issue,” Tettemer said.

Said Debra Brinton to planners, “You really have to involve the City of Allentown.”

The developer will need to present a formal proposal for the townhouses development to the planning commission. Planners are scheduled to meet 7:30 p.m. March 14.