The Nov. 9 Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting involved three applicants: Posh Properties’ proposed commercial development, Ciocca Subaru parking improvements and Dorney Tract Residential Subdivision. There was a fourth applicant Mill Creek Pointe Apartments who asked to be removed from the agenda.

The first project discussed was Posh Properties’ proposed commercial development. The project was represented by Seth Gehman of Bohler Engineering. Planning Director Nathan Jones said the property would have zoning relief for their setbacks. There was also a discussion about the traffic flow on the property.

Jones applauded the applicant for their thick and generous buffer on the southern side of the site. He did suggest the applicant use a larger specimen of trees so the neighbors receive a more immediate impact.

There was talk about having a turnaround area for larger vehicles by the storage facility. Jones questioned what the height of the buffer on the property would be. An emergency fire access was discussed for the property. The planning commission wanted to make sure the fire access around the storage building would be maintained during the winter. The discussion was tabled until the next meeting.

The second project discussed was the Dorney Tract Residential Subdivision. The project was proposed as an open space development. It would include 174 units with a combination of singles and twins. The property was represented by Attorney Nathan Fox from Obermayer. The land west of the turnpike next to Wild Cherry Park would be dedicated to the township.

Jones talked about the planning commission getting a secondary access to Camp Olympic and Camp Olympic Park. Jones also wanted to make sure there was proper buffering from the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Township engineer Bryan McAdam had some concerns with regard to the risk of sinkholes on the property. There were also historical quarries and limestone excavations and closed depressions on the property. Fox talked about having sinkhole management on the property and spraying the stormwater on open space to limit holding water in the stormwater basins.

The planning commission talked about adding a left turn lane on to Little Spur Road. There was also discussion about the location of stormwater basins on the property. The project was tabled until the next meeting.

The final project discussed was the Ciocca Subaru parking improvements. The plan would involve adding additional formalized parking on a portion of the property that is gravel. The planning commission talked about adding a “Welcome to Lower Macungie Township” gateway sign.

There was a discussion of the lighting system to be used on the property and whether the rest of the Subaru property would be retrofitted to match the newer lighting. The planning commission also talked about the landscaping along Hamilton Boulevard.

The next planning commission meeting will be Dec. 14. Usually the planning commission meets the second Tuesday of every month and occasionally there is a meeting on the third Tuesday of the month. There will be no workshop meeting in November or December.

All meetings begin 7 p.m. and the planning commission meetings will be in person with an online option over Zoom available and a video recording uploaded to the Township’s YouTube channel after the fact.