The Oct. 10 meeting of the Lower Macungie Planning Commission involved five projects.

These projects were 6130 Sauerkraut Lane Minor Subdivision, Al Maqasid Learning Center West Campus, Western Lehigh Services, 1740 Spring Creek Road Barn Apartment Conversion and Beit Simcha Ministry House.

The first item discussed was 6130 Sauerkraut Lane Minor Subdivision. The project was represented by Joe Rentko of Black Forest Engineering. Rentko said the main issue is that parts of the site are in the 100- or 500-year flood plains.

Rentko asked if an adjusted FEMA flood plain was necessary for approval. The planning commission said an adjusted FEMA flood plain is necessary before any building, saying they need to make sure future residents are safe.

Rentko said this project is just a subdivision and they are not asking for a driveway or building at this point. The planning commission said they need to have FEMA adjust the flood plain before subdivision of land is approved. No action was taken.

The second project discussed was the Al Maqasid Learning Center West Campus. The project was represented by Erich Schock of Fitzpatrick Lentz and Bubba and Bud Newton of Newton Engineering along with applicant John Rhodus.

Newton explained the east campus was for post high school education, while the west campus was for age two through grade 12 education.

There was some discussion about parking on the site. Driveways on the site will be one way in, one way out.

Newton said each age will have two classrooms with 25 students each. There was a discussion about the potential of a boarding school model for part of the school.

Newton talked about the connection between the two campuses including a flashing signal near the crosswalk, conducting a traffic impact study and needing to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

The planning commission is waiting for a traffic impact study before approving the conditional use. There was a discussion about the possibility of dormitories on campus along with emergency access on the property. No action was taken.

The next project discussed was Western Lehigh Services, 1500 Trexlertown Road. The property was represented by Western Lehigh Services Vice President Jake Longenbach along with Bill Erdman from Keystone Consulting Engineers and Julie Wagner Burkart, a land use counsel from Stevens and Lee.

The property was a former Mayo Family Trust property. The plan involves an office for their meetings, a small nursery for displays and storage for their vehicles and material.

Planning Director Nathan Jones spoke about the historical farmstead and other historical structures on the property. Jones also talked about keeping mulch, topsoil and road salt well out of the flood plains of the nearby creek.

There was a discussion about buffering on the property. Western Lehigh Services is a landscaping company also involved in snow removal in the winter. Longenbach said the business is a wholesale, not a retail company. There was a discussion about hours of operation and light pollution for neighboring residents. No action was taken.

The next project discussed was 1740 Spring Creek Road Barn Apartment Conversion. Burkhart represented this project as well as the applicant Gregg Hart. The property already has an accessory dwelling unit and Hart is attempting to add additional accessory dwelling units. The conditional use would be for up to four additional dwelling units.

There was a discussion about frontage improvements such as a trail or path along Spring Creek and Mill Creek roads. The planning commission talked about the recreation fee on the property which would be $3,800 per unit.

Jones talked about the different options for a path versus sidewalk along the frontage of the property. Hart asked if he could only pay the recreation fee for one unit rather than all four as he does not plan to add any more units after this one.

There was a discussion about changing the trail to a deferral. The trail would be on the township’s right of way. A motion to recommend approval of the plan to the board of commissioners passed.

The final project discussed was the Beit Simcha Ministry House. There was a discussion about the width of the walkways on the property. The project was represented by Rabbi Blank. Blank explained he wanted to use a 5-foot wide concrete walkway rather than a 6-foot wide macadam path.

He said the front walkway won’t be able to connect to any other walkway on the property if it is 6-feet wide. The base is installed for the walkway, but the walkway has not been completed yet.

When the plan was originally approved, it called for a 6-foot wide macadam path. Blank is looking to put in a concrete walkway, which he feels is better quality. The township ordinance allows concrete sidewalks to be 5-feet wide.

Blank said power line poles might prevent paths from being 6-feet wide. He added the 6-foot wide path could encroach upon a pair of trees on the property. A motion to recommend the modification of an existing plan involving 5-foot concrete sidewalks passed.

The next Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting will be Nov. 14. 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 October.

Meetings begin 6 p.m. and 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.