Some fees may be waived when a Wildlands Conservancy project is presented for review by Salisbury Township boards.

After discussion at the Aug. 11 township meeting, the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 to agree to waive fees up to $1,500 for the Wildlands project. Commissioner Alex Karol made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Alok Patnaik, to bring the motion to a vote.

Carl Martin, director of property stewardship, Wildlands Conservancy, 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus, attended the meeting and made the request to waive township fees on behalf of the conservancy.

The proposed Black River Conservancy is bounded by Honeysuckle Road, Black River Road and Church Road. The acreage is intended for passive recreation, including hiking and bicycling. A portion of the acreage is in Upper Saucon Township.

In an email response to questions from a reporter for The Press, Martin said Wildlands acquired the acreage in three separate acquisitions from different land owners over a period of three years in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

The 180-acre Black River Conservancy is in the vicinity of the Wildlands’ South Mountain Preserve, portions of which are also in Salisbury, but it’s not directly connected to other Wildlands’ preserves.

A public opening for the Black River Conservancy is planned this fall, but a specific date was not announced as of the deadline for this article.

The preserve will have parking, hiking trails and welcome and information signs.

The plan is to use existing access created for PPL.

“As mentioned at the meeting, our hope is to use the existing access that was created for and currently serves the PPL Utility Row,” Martin said in the email. “This way we don’t need to move any more earth, cut trees or have any more impact than absolutely necessary.

“It’s my understanding that we’ll need to submit for permits even to use-improve what is currently there and this should be taking place shortly.”

Typically the project would be reviewed by township planners and zoners.

In the email response, Martin said, “Wildlands is very excited to be able to work with Salisbury, and all our partners, to protect the natural resources of the area and provide public access to places like Black River Sanctuary for future generations.”

The Wildlands Conservancy, founded in 1973, is celebrating 40 years.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners’ 7 p.m. Aug. 25 meeting is canceled.

The Salisbury Township Planning Commission meets 7 p.m. Aug. 24 in the meeting room of the township building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

The planners’ agenda, as of the deadline for this article, includes:

-Review granting extension of time until Nov. 22 (90 days) for the recording of final plans for a minor subdivision at 1453 Lehigh Ave. (No. 20-0050). The proposed project was conditionally approved by the planning commission, May 11, 2021 and its index was signed June 21, 2021.

-Review granting extension of time until Nov. 22 (90 days) for the recording of final plans for a minor subdivision at 839 E. Lynwood St. (No. 20-0246). The proposed project was conditionally approved by the planning commission, Feb. 9, 2021 and its index was signed March 25, 2021.

-Review preliminary-final land development project for 1525 E. Susquehanna St. (No. 21-0214) submitted by Erika Perez-Lopez, which proposes to convert an existing structure into a hair salon with additional parking.

-Review preliminary-final land development project for 3380 Lehigh St. (No. 21-0332) submitted by Oak Restaurants, LLC which proposes to construct a new fast-food restaurant with drive-thru lanes.