The Jan. 11 Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting involved some reorganization and two development projects, Brookside Meadows Apartments and Neighborhood Hospital, Macungie.

There was a third development project, Woodmont Valley Phase II, which was removed from the agenda at the applicant’s request.

The planning commission began with reorganization. Thomas F. Beil was named commission chairman and John Hammer was named vice chairman by unanimous vote. Amy Miller was named secretary by unanimous vote.

The first project discussed was Neighborhood Hospital, Macungie.

Planning commissioners expressed some concerns about the buffer along a residential property. The current buffer has a fungus and should be replaced. There was also a discussion about stormwater.

The project was represented by Attorney Peter Lehr. There was a conversation about having internal pedestrian connections to an adjoining site. Lehr talked about wanting to reuse the existing stormwater basin. The project was tabled until the next meeting.

Another project discussed was Brookside Meadows Apartments.

In previous meetings there were issues with property accessibility and stormwater control.

The project was represented by Attorney Catherine Durso of Fitzpatrick Lentz and Bubba as well as Tony Ganguza of Boyle Construction and Ben Guthrie.

Lower Macungie Township Planning Director Nathan Jones showed a new design from Durso where a private road will be changed from the main access to the emergency access. The emergency access onto Brookside Road would become the main access. Jones also discussed adding a midblock crosswalk so pedestrians can walk to the township pool and community center.

There was a discussion of the flood plain and stormwater collection system. Planners asked for a more detailed stormwater collection system during the land development review process. Commissioners asked about flashing signs and lighting to improve nighttime visibility. The commission asked if the crosswalk might become a possible bus stop.

Guthrie talked about the placement of the sidewalk. The original plan was to put the crosswalk at the main access to the development but Guthrie felt the midblock crossing had better visibility. Guthrie said the next step would be to get approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for the crosswalk.

There was a discussion about having the private road become the main access at the point when it is further developed and the intersection has a traffic signal added. Durso argued it would be hard to commit to this because of the number of variables. The planning commission recommended approval of the conditional use plan by unanimous vote.

The next Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting will be Jan. 18 and involve three sketch plans for development. 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 both in person and over Zoom with a video recording uploaded to the township’s YouTube channel after the fact.