A tabled eight-unit apartment complex proposal was to have been reviewed at the Salisbury Township Planning Commission meeting, 7 p.m. Oct. 25 in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

There are other items on the agenda, which is posted on the township website. The apartment complex plan is not on the agenda. The plan may be on the agenda of the 7 p.m. Nov. 29 planning commission meeting.

The proposed apartments, 1350 E. Susquehanna St., received several approvals of variances at the Sept. 27 planners’ meeting, attended by an estimated 20 persons, many of whom spoke in opposition to the project.

The land development project for a two-story garden apartment building with supporting improvements on 1.09 acres of unimproved land submitted by Bedminster Building Company, Perkasie, is a permitted use in the R4 Medium Density Residential Zoning District, Salisbury Township Zoning Officer Kerry Rabold said at the meeting.

Although the address is 1350 Susquehanna St., access to the property is from Van Vetchen Avenue.

Township residents who live in the vicinity of the proposed project said it would cause traffic, parking and stormwater runoff problems.

“Once the plan is recorded, the address will be changed to a Van Vetchen Avenue address,” Rabold said.

Planners voted 7-0 at the Sept. 27 meeting to table the eight-unit project.

Each unit would be 1,200-square-feet. The building is to be on a slab with no basement.

Salisbury Township Consulting Engineer Stan Wojciechowski of Barry Isett & Associates Inc., read from his review letter, saying of the proposed 5,540-square-foot building: “The project use meets zoning regulations.”

Waivers requested and recommended for granting in separate 7-0 votes at the Sept. 27 planners’ meeting included: combine preliminary-final plan; not showing man-made features in 100 feet; open-space fee of $2,000 per unit or $16,000 in lieu of open space land; 26-foot cart-way in lieu of 24-foot cart-way contingent on developer replacing eight-inch storm sewer pipe with 15-inch storm sewer pipe; sidewalk on east side of Van Vetchen and crowned road to follow existing grades.

Attorney Caroline Achey Edwards, Newtown, Bucks County, representing John Ciliberto, owner, Bedminster Building Company, said, “We are providing sidewalk along one side of Van Vetchen. There is no sidewalk along Susquehanna.”

“When they reconstruct Van Vetchen, the plan is to add curbing and sidewalk on one side,” Wojciechowski said.

“We have some concerns about stormwater,” Wojciechowski said.

“We need to see the planning module and calculations,” Edwards said.

“We’d like to get a minimum 15-inch pipe in there,” Wojciechowski said.

“The planning commission must determine off-street parking and unloading,” Rabold said. Rabold also said a fire official review must be done.

Following the approximate 30-minute presentation, residents spoke.

“Why apartments? That’s ridiculous,” resident Stephen Mazza said.

“It’s an approved use. It’s zoned for that,” Planner Jessica Klocek said.

“Everyone going down Van Vetchen has a water and sewer problem. We have a sewer backup,” resident Holly Weiss said, adding, “We have a problem with water and sewer already. We’re all affected by this.”

“We have infiltration into the sewer line. The LCA [Lehigh County Authority] has asked to come to a meeting of the [township] commissioners in October,” Wojciechowski said.

“Parking is a huge concern,” residents Kristine and John Schankowitz said, adding, “Would anyone ever want a big apartment unit next to their residence?”

“Is there a way that we can see if the pipes can be replaced?” Planner Richard Schreiter asked.

“That’s why we’re asking for them to put in an underground retention pond,” Wojciechowski said, adding, “I’ve spoken with Jim [Levernier, Salisbury Township Director of Public Works] and he has an application in for a grant.”

“I understand that you’re putting in an underground retention pond,” Schreiter said.

“We’re also doing a planning module,” Edwards said.

“My understanding is that it’s a wet-weather problem that the township is aware of,” Wojciechowski said.

“What I’m concerned about is stormwater getting into the sanitary sewer,” Planning Commission Chairman Charles Beck said.

“That area has a high water table,” Schreiter said.

The tabling of the project was contingent upon Wojciechowski looking into drainage concerns.

In an email response to a question from a reporter for The Press, it was stated by a township official “revisions and gathering of information concerning the storm and sewer issues is still being worked on.”

The plan may be submitted for further review at the November planners’ meeting.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners meets 7 p.m. Oct. 26, in the meeting room of the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.