The Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission reviewed four development applications at its April 13 meeting.

The first development application discussed was a conditional use plan for the 1955 Willow Lane barn conversion project.

The project involves converting the barn into a microbrewery and distillery with a taproom as well as a pair of apartments on the second floor.

There was talk about a riparian buffer on the property. The planning commission questioned if there is sufficient parking on the site. The property would also include a walking path which is part of the township’s Greenway Plan.

The Willow Lane project was represented by Attorney Craig Neely and the applicant Ronald Beitler. Neely talked about deferring the requirement of a buffer alongside a neighboring property until that property changes in ownership. Beitler said he is more than happy to install buffers if necessary in the future.

In addition, Beitler said he intends to close off the creek recreation area during and immediately after flooding for safety precautions. Beitler explained he would prefer to use shared parking with neighboring company Smooth-On if more parking is needed rather than adding more parking on his property.

He said adding additional parking would trigger a land development and involve significant stormwater improvements making the project not feasible. There was a discussion about limiting the hours of operation to before 10 p.m. The planning commission required Beitler to submit a parking plan for any events above typical operations.

Beitler did not want the shed on the property to be required to be prefabricated, but he agreed to follow other size and construction requirements. The planning commission recommended approval of the plan and the vote was unanimous.

The next development project discussed was the 3109 Macungie Road residential subdivision. The property is a residential development with a horseshoe shaped main road and a pair of cul-de-sacs. There would be 16 lots on the property. The stormwater management would be located at the rear of the property.

The project was represented by engineer Brian Cicak and Attorney Catherine Durso of Fitzpatrick Lentz and Bubba. Cicak talked about the possibility of removing the cul-de-sacs. The planning commission was unsure if the geometry of some of the lots would meet township requirements.

Durso said eliminating cul-de-sacs would help remove concerns regarding the steep slopes on the property. There was also discussion about the type of path along Sauerkraut Lane. The planning commission suggested the trail go along the unnamed tributary of the Little Lehigh Creek.

Planning Commissioner Tom Beil talked about not requiring curbing along Sauerkraut Lane. The planning commission said the biking or walking path should be separated from the road. There was talk about extending the path along the unnamed tributary with a reduction of the recreation fee and ownership of the tributary.

Township Commissioner Maury Robert asked about the seven lots along Sauerkraut Lane that will have reverse frontage.

The third development project discussed was the 3510 Macungie Road residential subdivision. The property borders Indian Creek Road and Macungie Road. The property would include 22 residences and shared driveways with up to four units using the same driveway.

The project is represented by Attorney Erich Schock. Schock said he hopes to modify the plan so there are less units and each lot has more open space. Beil said he feels residents sharing driveways could create difficulties and arguments regarding maintenance and snow removal.

Developer Reiss Rosenthal also represented the project. He said there would be trees set between the houses acting as a natural border. Rosenthal also said there would be a homeowners association handling maintenance of the shared driveways and the stormwater basin as well as snow removal.

The final project discussed was the Allen Organ mixed-use redevelopment. The project was represented by the applicant, Stephen Santola of Woodmont Properties as well as Durso and engineer Mark Bahnick of Van Cleef Engineering.

Bahnick said the development meets the ratio of commercial to residential spacing. The property includes carriage apartments and a 10,000 square foot commercial building. The commercial building includes a drive-thru. There are commercial businesses on the first floor and residential apartments on the second and third floors.

Bahnick said the property has more than the required amount of open space with areas for recreation including a pocket park. The planning commission wanted to integrate the carriage homes to the commercial property.

There was talk about attaching the pocket park to some of the Macungie borough frontage improvements so residents could travel into Macungie borough. Beil said he hoped the commercial property was more integrated with the residential buildings.

Santola said the shape of the property requires the commercial portion to be up by Route 100 in front of the residential buildings. Planning Commissioner Al Perez said the property does not feel like a cohesive development.

The planning commission said the property seems like a residential development with a commercial aspect only because it is required. Planning Director Nathan Jones said the property has a lot of promise and is moving in the right direction. The idea of adding a second commercial building in place of one or two carriage homes was suggested.

Due to a large number of development applications, there was a second planning commission meeting scheduled for April 20. 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.

Workshops begin 6 p.m. while meetings begin 7 p.m. and currently all planning commission meetings will be held over Zoom with a video recording uploaded to the township’s YouTube channel after the meeting.