An East Emmaus Avenue garden apartment project has been recommended for approval.

The Salisbury Township Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the land development project by NuVision Properties, LCC, for 1493 E. Emmaus Ave., which proposes to convert an existing structure into 12 garden apartment units in the R4, Medium Density Residential zoning district.

The planners recommended approval to the township board of commissioners, which may vote on the project at a July meeting.

NuVision Properties was represented at the June 22 planners’ meeting by Attorney William G. Malkames, on behalf of Julius Ewungkem and Frank Ndi, NuVision owners.

Salisbury Township Consulting Engineer David J. Tettemer of Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc., said his review letter of the project had 10 items.

Tettemer said he would have no engineering objection to:

•Combining the preliminary and final plan

•Not having to locate man-made features on the plan that are 100 feet from the site

•Not having the Lehigh County Conservation District require an erosion control plan

•A 50-foot right of way for Fairview Road when 60 foot is required and a 60-foot right of way for East Emmaus Avenue when 80 foot is required

•A waiver for curbing

The planners agreed with Tettemer and voted 6-0, with one planner absent, for the waivers.

Planners also voted 6-0 for a future Pennsylvania Department of Transportation right of way along Fairview and East Emmaus Avenue.

Concerning street trees, Tettemer said of the plan, “They have more than the number required. They added some to the site because of the PPL right of way.”

It was noted planners voted 6-0 at the March 23 meeting to not require a loading dock and 6-0 at the April 27 meeting for a deferral on curbs and sidewalks.

Before the vote to recommend approval, planners discussed the township requirement for a recreation fee.

Based on the township $2,000 per unit recreation fee, for 12 units the fee would have been $24,000.

After several votes, planners voted 4-2 to require a $12,000 recreation fee.

Planners voted 5-1 to recommend approval of the project to the board of commissioners.

The Salisbury Township Planning Commission is next scheduled to meet 7 p.m. July 27, in the meeting room of the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners is next scheduled to meet 7 p.m. July 14 in the municipal building.

The Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board is next scheduled to meet 7 p.m. July 13 in the municipal building.