South Whitehall board members, staff and residents provided comments not only on the comprehensive plan guiding principles prepared by consultant Thomas Comitta but also on various other issues of concern in the township.

Board’ President Christina “Tori” Morgan was looking for an economic aspect in the principles.

“We need to have smart growth and economic stability to provide services,” Morgan said. “It’s a big puzzle. We have to put all the pieces together. The hope is balance.”

Commissioner David Bond said that somewhere there should be an outline of items the state will not let the township do. He added the township’s authority is limited in what it can do.

“Large landowners can sell. We can’t stop them,” Bond said.

“Sometimes we don’t even know about a sale until they show up with a plan.”

Township Solicitor Joe Zator noted the comprehensive plan itself is rather nebulous, but it becomes the guidepost through which the ordinances are drafted.

Traffic, warehouses, Ridge Farm and high density development in general were mentioned by residents as major concerns.

Alan Starr, of West Congress Street, alleged the sewage plant in Allentown, which accepts and processes waste from South Whitehall, needs a billion dollars for repair, while PennDOT is facing steep funding declines.

“You can’t keep building warehouses when there’s no roads,” Starr said. “If PennDOT doesn’t have money, and the infrastructure will not be there, can that stop Ridge Farm?”

Zator explained Penn- DOT controls what must be done to get on a road, such as Walbert Avenue, and the developer has to comply with PennDOT’s regulations before receiving a highway occupancy permit.

Comitta was taking notes for about half the meeting while one person after another raised matters of concern, from control of lantern flies and loss of farm land to the recurring issue of too much traffic clogging roads in the township.

Dave Manhardt, South Whitehall director of geographic information systems, stated the next step in the comprehensive plan process will be to form subcommittees to work on topics of concern and the guiding principles.

“Our goal is to wrap this up next summer,” Manhardt said.