Even though Lehigh County is still in the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown Yellow Phase, meaning, for one guideline, no gatherings of 25 or more persons, hope springs eternal in the hearts of merchants that once the county moves into the Green Phase, where gatherings of 250 or less are expected to be allowed, two longtime attractions at the South Mall, Salisbury Township, can be open for business.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 in two separate votes in two hearings to approve conditional uses for a food truck festival and a fireworks sales tent at the South Mall.

A five-year-conditional use, through 2024, for the fireworks tent, was granted by the vote to approve a motion introduced by Board of Commissioners Vice President Rodney Conn and seconded by Commissioner Heather Lipkin.

Keystone Novelties Distributor, LLC, Lancaster, would sell fireworks from under a tent set up on the South Mall parking lot 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 22 to July 6.

“We have operated there for the past five years without incident. Our desire is to continue that for the next five years,” John Ma said, representing Keystone Novelties.

“We sell sparklers and other novelty items. Technically, this is not considered consumer fireworks,” he said.

During the conditional use hearing, with Salisbury Township Solicitor Atty. John W. Ashley conducting both hearings, photographs of the tent, including aerial photographs, images of signs and a diagram of the tent were submitted as exhibits for review by the commissioners, who served as the conditional use board for both hearings.

The location of the tent is not expected to impede access and egress to the mall parking lot or traffic lanes on the lot.

A portable generator will provide electricity for about three hours at night to provide lighting.

A portable latrine will be set up.

Parking cones will be placed so vehicles cannot park closer than 10 feet to the tent.

There will be two fire extinguishers in the tent.

The Salisbury Township Fire Inspector is to review the tent after it is set up.

“Our company is the largest operator of these kinds of tent sales throughout the northeast U.S.,” Ma said.

A small truck would deliver approximately 80 cases of product on two palettes on the morning of the first day of business operation. The company’s local route manager, who manages about eight tents, would replenish product with approximately 20 cases if needed during the South Mall tent operating schedule.

The motion to approve a five-year conditional use, held during a hearing that followed the hearing for the fireworks tent, was introduced by Commissioner James Seagreaves and seconded by Conn, for a food truck festival at the South Mall.

Rachel Berosh, South Mall assistant mall manager, talked about the event, which in its third year is expected to include 10 to 15 food trucks 4-8 p.m. Thursdays through September.

“We park in a ring,” Berosh said, “and inside the ring, we have tables and chairs.

“Obviously, this year, it’s going to be a lot different. I don’t know about sitting outside, maybe later.

“I’ve been looking at the way farmers markets are handling it and I figure that by having a longer configuration, it may move people along because I don’t want people to hang out.

“I would presume we’d have to get into the Green Phase before allowing people to be seated,” Berosh said.

Berosh submitted a photo for review at the hearing that depicted the position of the trucks.

“We occasionally have crafters and other types of farmers market vendors,” Berosh said of the food truck festival.

“We do park the trucks in a square, so cars can’t drive through. I am working the event the whole time, along with mall security. I am the person who takes out the trash. We invite the customers to come inside the mall and use our restrooms.

“We are very conscious of COVID-19,” Berosh said.

“I really, really hope that the South Mall survives the shutdown,” Board of Commissioners President Deb Brinton said.

“I hope to see you all there, with your masks on,” Berosh said of the food truck festival.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners’ next scheduled meeting, via the Zoom online platform, is scheduled 7 p.m. June 11 for which the workshop agenda includes “continued public discussion regarding proposed [Western Salisbury] fire station.” Preregistration is required to participate.