At its Feb. 6 meeting, Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners heard new details regarding the Whitehall Mall redevelopment plan.

Jordin Horan, of Washington Prime Group, was present to explain the redevelopment plan. Leases are being finalized with multiple tenants. Horan explained Washington Prime intends to demolish the Sears Auto Center structure and rebuild on the site, on MacArthur Road.

Parts of the Sears and Old Country Buffet structures will also be demolished to align the buildings with other storefronts in the lot, reduce square footage and increase visibility from the road.

Washington Prime has a rock-climbing gym set to take residence of the former Gold’s Gym.

Horan said the group is also aware Bed Bath and Beyond is closing many stores, and if the business’ Whitehall Mall location closes, Washington Prime plans to add that property to a future phase.

Other improvements planned include more landscaping, updating paint and increasing connectivity through sidewalks. A convenience store and coffee shop have also been proposed in the parking lot.

Commissioner Charles Fisher asked if Washington Prime would be the first electric charging station in the township. Horan said developers are working with tenants that are interested in doing just that but added Washington Prime will do it if the tenants don’t.

In other business, commissioners discussed preserving a 155-acre farmland. Diane Gehringer, a farmland preservation specialist, said this would be the largest property preserved in Whitehall Township since preservation started in 1989.

Jack Weinhofer hopes to purchase and preserve the property; however, Lehigh County only provides up to $6,000 of assistance per acre, meaning the township would have to help fund the endeavor.

Commissioners were scheduled to meet Feb. 13 for its regular meeting, but that meeting was canceled due to lack of quorum. The board was expected to vote on a conditional approval for a proposed Outback Steakhouse, to be located at 1300 Grape St.

The next meeting, a workshop, will be 7 p.m. March 6 in the municipal building, 3219 MacArthur Road.