During the Jan. 20 Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners meeting, a conditional use hearing was held over a proposed DADD Pizza Macungie, Inc., 1091 Mill Creek Road in the Walmart shopping center. The proposed change is an already used pizza restaurant and will add a small craft beer brewery. This was approved.

A proposed use for the vacant Weis building was the topic of another conditional use hearing. The proposed use, known as NH- Macungie, will include demolishing the vacant Weis building and build a one story hospital measuring over 22,000 square feet for inpatient and emergency services. The second building would be a 3-story medical building with over 10,000 square feet of area. The project will also include parking and landscaping conducive to the area. A small portion of this project is in Macungie Borough.

Several residents who live nearby expressed some concerns. An issue raised regarding the 3-story building is whether people within the building could see into neighbor’s yards with the same thought of whether neighbors could see into the building. Residents were reminded this is a conditional use hearing and not the planning phase. Residents were assured concerns will go on public record and are already be addressed by suggested methods such as privacy filming or fogging.

Residents also brought to the board’s attention the lighting in the area. With a now 3-story office building, lighting could reach into residents’ bedroom windows. Again, this is just the conditional use portion but these comments are noted in public record and will be considered.

Another question was asked regarding ambulances. It is anticipated there will only be one to two ambulances a day. It was suggested the emergency room will be for Level 4 situations. These are severe problems that require urgent evaluations but don’t pose a threat to life.

The conditional use hearing ended with approval by the board for the conditional use.

There was an executive session prior to the meeting about litigation and land acquisition. Another executive session was held after the meeting for labor and personnel issues.

Engineer Bryan McAdam told commissioners the sewer project is completed. It was completed slightly under budget.

Resolution 2022-05 was approved and authorizes the condemnation and acquisition of the Dorney Properties – 2525, 2700 and 2740 Lower Macungie Road with addresses in Emmaus are being condemned and acquired for parks and 2250 and 2300 Riverbend Road are being condemned and acquired for greenway/open space.

Resolution 2022-06 authorizes check signatories for accounts at First Keystone Community Bank. This was approved.