Nearly one-quarter of a million dollars has been approved for the Laubach Park stormwater mitigation project.

The project, which has been approved by the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners, is seen as the first step in fulfilling the master plan for Laubach Park. The master plan includes Franko Farm Park.

Commissioners voted 4-0, with one commissioner absent Feb. 24, to approve a motion to award a $246,755.70 bid to CMR Construction, Inc. for the Laubach Park stormwater improvement project.

Board of commissioners Vice President Rodney Conn made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Heather Lipkin.

Before the vote on the motion, Salisbury Township Consulting Engineer David J. Tettemer, of Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc., said CMR submitted the lowest bid.

“We have worked with CMR in another municipality and they did a fine job,” Tettemer said.

“This is hopefully the start of moving forward on Laubach. But we have to take care of the water issues,” board of commissioners President Debra Brinton said before the vote.

Tettemer presented information about the proposed Laubach stormwater improvement project at the Jan. 13 board of commissioners’ meeting workshop.

The Laubach project is to be undertaken in two phases at a cost estimated at $680,000, Tettemer said at the workshop.

Construction, which could begin in late March or early April, is to take six to eight weeks, Tettemer said.

The Master Site Development Plan for the 14.25-acre Laubach Park, Lehigh and Fairview avenues and the 93.72-acre Franko Farm Park, Black River Road, which called for an estimated $5 million in improvements, was approved by township commissioners in January 2017.

During public hearings for the Laubach master plan, residents in the vicinity of Laubach Park complained about runoff problems around the park, which contains a pond, a creek and a flood plain.

In other business at the Feb. 24 meeting, commissioners voted 4-0 to approve:

•An ordinance approving procedures for the collection of unpaid delinquent township fees and a motion to enter into an agreement with Portnoff Law Associates for the collection of delinquent municipal claims on behalf of Salisbury Township.

•Resolutions to revise township sewage facilities plans for a minor subdivision at 839 E. Lynnwood St. and 1453 Lehigh Ave.

•Motion to approve the Arts Academy Charter School memorandum of understanding.

•Motion to grant a time extension until June 30 for the land development plan at 1493 E. Emmaus Ave.

“They’re [the developers] in the process of getting planning commission approval,” Tettemer said before the vote, adding, “This has more to do with PPL and parking under the power lines. They needed some time to get outside approvals.”

The Salisbury Township Planning Commission voted 6-0, with one member absent, at the Dec. 14, 2021, meeting, to table the preliminary site plan for the land development at 1493 E. Emmaus Ave. submitted by NuVision Properties, LLC.

The project proposes to convert the building, previously a group home, into 12 garden apartment units. The property is in the R4, Medium Density Residential zoning district.

•Motion to appoint Matthew McConnelly as a vacancy board member.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners is next scheduled to meet 7 p.m. March 10, in the meeting room of the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

The Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board 7 p.m. March 9 meeting is canceled.