The Sept. 21 meeting of the Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission included three development applications – Suburban Self Serve Carwash, Buckeye Solar and Posh Properties Commercial Development.

The Suburban Self Serve Carwash was the first project discussed and the applicant Jennifer Krall was present. There was a discussion about the amount of water the car wash discharged into the sewer.

The planning commission claimed the car wash needed to purchase an additional 22 “equivalent dwelling units.”

One option was for Krall to pay for 11 EDUs and put the other 11 in an escrow while the other option would be to put all 22 EDUs in an escrow.

After three years, the EDUs put in an escrow will either be paid to the township or returned to Krall based on a study of the sewer discharge.

Krall said the project would add new lanes and enhanced landscaping. There was a discussion about whether the property could connect to the public water or continue to use well water.

The planning commission decided Krall would buy five EDUs and put the other 17 EDUs in an escrow. A motion to recommend approval of the modified plan passed unanimously.

The second plan discussed was Buckeye Solar. The property would be on Buckeye Road across from Eyer Middle School. There was talk about emergency access to the property and Buckeye handling the maintenance on the project.

The planning commission also talked about a wetland on the property and leaving some open space around it.

Justin Manchester, of Buckeye Pipeline and Attorney Catherine Durso, of Fitzpatrick Lentz and Bubba, represented the project. Durso talked about dedicating land on the property for a possible future sidewalk. A motion to recommend approval of the plan passed unanimously.

The final project discussed was Posh Properties Commercial Development. The project involved combining four lots into a property at the end of Shuler Street with frontage on Hamilton Boulevard.

Township Planning Director Nathan Jones explained the property would include Kiddie Academy Daycare Center and Preschool and a storage facility. Jones also said there would be a residential neighborhood abutting the property and there would be a very robust buffer along that side of the property.

There was a discussion about maneuverability and internal circulation within the property. Jones said he wanted to make sure there would not be a conflict between users of the two businesses considering the number of young children crossing the parking lot.

The developer agreed to look into the issue of traffic circulation and the idea of adding speed humps or other traffic calming devices. The discussion was tabled until the next meeting.

The next planning commission meeting will be Oct. 12. Usually the planning commission meets the second Tuesday of every month and occasionally there is a meeting on the third Tuesday of the month.

All meetings begin 7 p.m. and the planning commission meetings are in person with an online option over Zoom available. A video recording is uploaded to the township’s YouTube channel after the fact.