The March 8 meeting of the Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting involved five development projects as well as an Act 537 update from Lehigh County Authority.

Two additional applicants – Ciocca Subaru and a 900 South Hillview Road development were removed from the agenda at the applicants’ request.

The meeting began with a Trexlertown Act 537 update from Phil DePoe of Lehigh County Authority. The area in question included both Upper Macungie and Lower Macungie townships.

The Lehigh County Authority has a pretreatment plant in Upper Macungie Township and there is a bottleneck downstream that splits the border of Upper Macungie and Lower Macungie townships. DePoe talked about finding a solution that doesn’t simply push the issue downstream.

DePoe talked about adding a pump station at the pretreatment plant and running a force main up to the Upper Macungie Township Trunk Line. This would cost about $6 million and divert some of the flow from the bottleneck area.

The first development discussed was 3510 Macungie Road. The property would involve 22 single family homes along with a passive open space area to the north. There would be a walking trail along Macungie Road with connectivity to a neighboring existing park.

There was a discussion about a reverse frontage buffer for houses facing Macungie Road. Planning Director Nathan Jones talked about the possibility of shorter frontage on the lots, with smaller front yards and larger backyards.

The project was represented by developer Reese Rosenthal and Attorney Erich Schock, of Fitzpatrick Lentz and Bubba. Schock said the developer would take over the maintenance of a stormwater basin to be combined with an existing township stormwater basin.

Another project discussed was the Neighborhood Hospital Macungie development. The property is along Route 100 at the previous Weis Markets location. There was talk about increased buffering on the northern edge of the property; this would involve patching the current buffer.

Township Engineer Brian Cicak talked about intersection alignment and having adequate parking. The project was represented by Attorney Peter Lehr, of Norris McLaughlin.

The planning commission made a motion to recommend approval of the preliminary and final plan. The motion was approved. Two waivers were approved and one regarding partial relief from some landscaping requirements was denied as it needed to appear before the zoning hearing board.

Posh Proposed Commercial Development was also discussed during the meeting. The project was held up previously because it needed the emergency access road to be approved by the township fire marshal. The property consists of a self-storage area and a day care center.

There were discussions about the traffic flow within the property and a stormwater basin in the rear of the site. The property was represented by Schock. There was talk about having the fire marshal sign off on the emergency access road.

The planning commission made a motion to recommend approval of the preliminary and final plan. The motion was approved unanimously.

Another project discussed during the meeting was the Home Depot plan modification of Macungie Crossings. The property would have less parking than was required in the original 2006 plan and would allow for the possibility of three additional tenants on the property.

There was discussion of the stormwater plan for the site. The project was represented by Bud Newton, of Newton Engineering. There was a discussion about having dark sky compliant lighting. The frontage of the building would include stacked stone and a lumber canopy, which would be significantly improved from the previous plan.

Newton said the other parcels will help the shopping area comply with the Hamilton Boulevard study. There would be three additional parcels on the Home Depot property and two more on a neighboring property.

The three parcels would have to comply with stormwater use on the property and provide their own parking. Discussion included finding spots for electric charging stations. A new traffic study would not be required. The planning commission did not take any action.

The final project discussed was the 7991 Quarry Road – Sauerkraut Lane extension development. The site is a prior quarry which has been filled in. The development will get its access off the Sauerkraut Lane extension.

This is the last lot in the Spring Creek Highway Industrial District. The property would have ample truck parking. There would be an office in the front and shop in the back of the property. There would also be trailer parking around the property. There was talk about having space for amenities for truck drivers on the property.

There was a discussion about buffering requirements and having potential rain gardens. The front of the site would have ornamental flowering trees.

The project was represented by Sean Policelli, of Gilmore Associates. The project relies on the use of the Sauerkraut Lane extension. The planning commission did not take any action on the project.

The next Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting will be April 12. 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. There will be no workshops in March or April.

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.