The Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission discussed the Indian Creek Village development and the ABE Doors redevelopment at its Oct. 8 meeting.

Spring Creek Properties Settlement Subdivision was to appear at the meeting but was removed from the schedule at the applicant’s request.

Indian Creek Village was the first development reviewed during the meeting.

The project was represented by David Lear of Lehigh Engineering. There was a discussion about the zoning relief the project received from the zoning hearing board for lot sizes so the lots are similar to neighboring properties. Lear also talked about water and sewer utilities.

Lear asked for a deferment on the sidewalk and bicycle path requirement for the property. There was still the possibility of having street trees on Jasper Road. The discussion was tabled.

The other development discussed was the ABE redevelopment. Attorney Christopher McLean, of Fitzpatrick Lentz and Bubba represented the ABE project. McLean was asking for conditional use approval.

The ABE redevelopment is the first project to fall under the new zoning ordinances formed earlier this year. McLean made it clear the current plan does not involve cutting down any existing sycamore trees on Hamilton Boulevard.

Commissioners wanted both evergreen bushes and trees in the rear buffer to prevent light and noise pollution.

There was a discussion about parking during the meeting. Commissioners wanted ABE to reduce parking spaces from their current 80. There were questions about building setbacks and moving the buildings closer to Hamilton Boulevard.

Commissioners asked about the truck turning template. McLean agreed to get rid of the turnaround area and lose some of their parking spaces. In addition to the ABE showroom, the property would also include a car wash and some commercial buildings.

Commissioners wanted one of the buildings on the property to be rotated, but McLean argued rotating the building would make it less appealing to developers and companies interested in moving in to the building.

“We want to be a partner in this,” Director of Planning and Community Development Nathan Jones said. “We are very happy that ABE wants to continue to invest in the community,” Jones continued.

There were questions about moving some of the parking from the front of the building to the side of the building. McLean said losing the front row of parking spaces could affect visitors coming in.

McLean explained ABE would not need a place to park trucks on the property. Trucks would only drop off deliveries on the property and not be stored there for any length of time.

There was a discussion about saving the sycamore trees on Hamilton Boulevard.

Commissioners talked about threading the needle between moving buildings closer to Hamilton Boulevard and saving sycamore trees. The conditional use plan was approved unanimously.

The next Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting will be Oct. 15 in the township municipal building, 3400 Brookside Road.