The Dec. 13 meeting of the Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission involved three projects. They included mixed use developments at North Krocks Road and Cedarbrook Road. There was also Firefly LLC, a new business at 6265 Hamilton Blvd.

The first project discussed was at 617 N. Krocks Road. The property is on the other side of Route 222 from the Hamilton Crossings shopping center. The number of residences on the property has gone down from the previous plan. There is also an additional public recreation area.

The property would include a 160-room hotel as well as slightly less than 20,000 square feet of retail space. The planning commission suggested a small plaza near the entrance that would include bike racks.

There was a discussion about an emergency access for the fire department and emergency vehicles. The project was represented by Attorney Catherine Durso from Fitzpatrick Lentz and Bubba as well as Tyler Krause from McMann and Associates and Engineer Dennis Keenan from French and Parrello Associates.

Durso was willing to put in a plaza near the entrance. There was a discussion about the transportation impact study. Krause talked about the idea of putting in a signal at the intersection of North Krocks and Cetronia roads. Krause said he was doing a study on the intersection and it would need to meet criteria for a signal to be put in.

There was a discussion about having a second entrance to the property. A motion to recommend approval of the project to the board of commissioners passed unanimously. There was discussion about granting a time extension for the project.

The second project discussed was a request for modification of a zoning ordinance at 8511 Cedarbrook Road. The project is a mixed-use style development that would include a grocer and service station as well as Top Golf as its’ anchor user.

There was a discussion over whether the Highway Enterprise Zoning Ordinance should be changed to allow mixed-use developments.

The property was represented by Attorney Erich Schock from Fitzpatrick Lentz and Bubba as well as John McRoberts from the Pidcock Company. Schock asked for a waiver on signage height for a single free standing sign next to Interstate 78.

The sign Schock was proposing would be 50-feet tall and 500-square feet in area. There was debate over whether the sign should be limited to 360-square feet as this is the regulation for billboards. Schock explained he wanted space for the primary user as well as other major users.

There was a discussion about whether to use a static sign or digital sign. The planning commission talked about if a mixed use golf driving range should be sub use of the outdoor recreation and entertainment use.

There was a discussion about the lighting for the golf driving range. The outdoor lights on the building will have cutoff fixtures. The fixtures would control the angles of where the light will shine. The lights on the driving range would not be able to have cutoff fixtures.

There was a discussion about how late the driving range lights could stay on. Originally Schock asked for the lights to be allowed in a dimmed state until 4 a.m. The planning commission asked for it to be 2 a.m. instead.

Schock said the lights would be on for two hours after closing for maintenance. The planning commission wanted the wording to be changed to two hours after closing.

Township Commissioner Maury Robert had concerns about the distance between the residential buildings. The planning commission agreed to have the fire marshal review the plan to ensure building service.

There was a motion to recommend approval of the modification of zoning ordinance to the board of commissioners that passed unanimously.

The final project discussed was Firefly LLC at 6265 Hamilton Blvd. The property is currently a multiuse building. The project has an ultralight manufacturing proposal. The company would assemble custom electronic parts. The project was represented by Joseph Zator of Zator Law along with applicants Tony Smith and Brian Miller.

Zator said the company would not be using any heavy machinery. The business would involve engineering consultations and electrical control systems. Smith said the company does not have a hazardous waste stream.

There was a motion to recommend approval of the conditional use application that passed unanimously.

The next planning commission meeting will be Jan. 10, 2023. The meeting will involve some reorganization as a new chair, vice chair and secretary will be chosen. The planning commission will go into January 2023 with five members as Nihal Raval and Amy Miller are leaving.

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 workshop in December.

Regular and workshop meetings begin 6 p.m. 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.