The Dec. 8 meeting of the Lower Macungie Planning Commission was held online via Zoom.

There were originally five developments on the agenda, but the ABE Doors redevelopment and 3510 Macungie Road development projects were removed at the applicants’ request.

The first development was Shepherd’s Corner on Hamilton Boulevard.

The project would include a credit union and strip mall. The project engineer, Bud Newton, was hoping to modify the footprint and architectural plan of the credit union. The footprint would be smaller and give the property less impervious coverage.

Commissioner Al Perez had concerns about traffic movement. Perez said traffic coming in from Hamilton Boulevard needs to make a quick left turn and wanted to make sure the driveway has adequate signage. Perez also asked if garbage trucks will be able to maneuver through the parking lot to empty the tenants’ dumpsters.

Newton said garbage trucks would be able to come through the main driveway and retrieve trash from the building. He also explained there would not be a break in the median for the entrance to the property. The plan was unanimously recommended to the Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners for approval.

The next project discussed during the meeting is located at 3500 Brookside Road. The project was represented by Tony Ganguzza and Van Cleef Engineering.

The project called for three apartment buildings to include a total of 44 units.

The property would be next to the Dries Do it Center and share a private road with Tyler Pipe Company.

Commissioners asked for the project to include a walking path connecting the property to the Lower Macungie Township Community Center and public pool. They also asked for generous buffering along Brookside Road.

One issue is that a portion of the property is in the 100-year and 500-year flood plains.

Lower Macungie Township Planning Director Nathan Jones noted flooding was observed in the areas designated for development during Tropical Storm Isaias in August. Jones also said there was incredible flooding at the nearby township building during the storm and questioned what Ganguzza would do to mitigate the issue.

Ganguzza has owned the property for the past 18 months and is currently trying to get Tyler Pipe Company to renegotiate the agreement they had with Dries regarding the private road.

There were two options Ganguzza was looking at for property access.

The first was a pair of access drives onto the access road south of the property with an emergency access onto Brookside Road.

The second involved primary access onto Brookside Road and an emergency access onto the private road.

Ganguzza wanted to find out which of the access options the township preferred. The township questioned the condition of the private road and whether or not improvements will be needed at the intersection.

All three apartment buildings on the property would be two stories and the third building would be slightly smaller than the other two. Ganguzza agreed to pay for a traffic study and a pathway from his property to the community center.

The planning commissioners questioned if a signal should be installed on Brookside Road. The commission asked Ganguzza to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and find out what improvements the intersection needs. A final recommendation is not required for sketch plans.

The final project to come before the planning commission was Greystone Circle. Township Engineer Bryan McAdam, CKS Engineers, wanted to see the grading plans for the driveways in the subdivision. There was a discussion about the utility easement on the property. The project’s engineer Robert Piligian said he was happy to provide the drainage, grading and utility plans.

There was a discussion about the setbacks of some of the existing houses in the Heritage Heights neighborhood. Piligian said the houses were set so far back from the street because the township required three off street parking spaces for houses in the neighborhood.

The planning commission asked for additional buffering along the northern property line and noted the fire department does not have issues or concerns with the development plan. A motion to approve the subdivision project was passed unanimously.

The next Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting will be Jan. 12, 2021 and will involve reorganization of the planning commission.

Usually the planning commission meets the second Tuesday of every month and occasionally there is a workshop meeting on the third Tuesday of the month.

There will be a workshop Jan. 19, 2021. Workshops begin 6 p.m. while meetings begin 7 p.m. Both January 2021 events will be held virtually via Zoom.