The July 27 Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting began with some reorganization.

The planning commission lost two long-term commissioners John Hammer and Thomas Beil for personal reasons. Due to this, the planning commission needed to name a new chairman and vice chairman.

Martine Minninger was named vice chairperson while Ozias Moore was named secretary and although he was absent from the meeting, Wesley Barrett was named chairman.

The first project discussed was Raising Canes, a part of the Trexler Business Center on Hamilton Boulevard. The property would be positioned between the drive-thru Wawa and Texas Roadhouse.

There was a discussion about traffic flow on the site. There is a street wall proposed along Hamilton Boulevard along with a generous landscaping plan. The applicant asked for a variance regarding brightness of outdoor lighting. A motion to recommend approval of the project to the board of commissioners passed.

The Mill Creek Pointe Apartments project was removed from the agenda at the applicant’s request.

Another project discussed was the 2024 Elbow Lane Minor Subdivision. The project is a minor subdivision of two lots. The lot in question already has a single family home. The plan calls for a new lot with a driveway and a proposed dwelling connecting to Hess Circle.

There were a few waivers in the project – one involved the dimensions of the property and another involved connecting to the public sewer and water system. The planning commission made a motion to recommend approval of the plan to the board of commissioners and it passed unanimously.

The next project discussed was 6031 Sauerkraut Lane. The property has a historic farmhouse. The plan involves subdividing the property so the owner’s family can live on the property.

There was a discussion about the neighboring Willow Lane Elementary School and the planning commission recommended full frontage improvements including a sidewalk or walking path throughout the area as much as possible.

The planning commission asked for an access easement at the northern end of the lot, allowing the township to create and buffer a trail to connect residents to Kratzer Farm Park in the future.

The project was represented by Joseph Rentko of Black Forest Engineering. Rentko clarified the frontage of the property would have a macadam path rather than a sidewalk. He was amenable to having an access easement on the property.

Rentko asked about a waiver on connecting to the public sewer. The planning commission made a motion to table the discussion and move it into administrative review. The motion passed.

The final project discussed was the 5329 Hamilton Boulevard, Hamilton Square Sketch Plan. The property is bordered by access to Hamilton Crossings on both sides.

Planning Director Nathen Jones talked about replacing the trees cut down on the property. He also said the building placement is not compliant with the township’s planning documents and the plan did not maintain the character of the existing buildings.

The property owner Gabriel Joseph was at the meeting as well as representatives Bud Newton and Tom Barlow from Newton Engineering and James Barriot, who is a broker for the property.

Newton talked about being unsuccessful in attempting to reach an agreement with Hamilton Crossings to have a vehicular or pedestrian access onto the property. He said the property would only have access onto Hamilton Boulevard.

There was discussion about the amount of traffic on the property.

Newton talked about the design of the buildings, varying the roof lines of the buildings, moving the buildings up closer to the roadway and adding screening walls around the buildings in an effort to maintain the character of the existing buildings.

Newton talked about having a trellis by the entrance to the patio area on the property to make the outdoor dining area more intriguing. Newton explained the positioning of the buildings had to do with fire truck and emergency vehicle access through the site.

There was a discussion about quick service versus full service restaurants on the property. The planning commission had questions about the driveway and visibility going into and out of the property.

It was mentioned a leading banding facility was interested in the property and the possibility of getting a waiver for a drive-thru on the property was discussed. No action was required from the planning commission.

The next Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission was scheduled for Aug. 8. 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.

Both regular and workshop meetings begin 6 p.m. Currently all planning commission meetings are held both in person and over Zoom with a video recording uploaded to the township’s YouTube channel after the fact.