The Oct. 8 meeting of the Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission included Hamilton Square Conditional Use and Bethany United Methodist Church.

There were two projects, 1470 Brookside Road Subdivision and Spring Creek Estates Modification, whose representatives did not show up for the meeting. Vince Tranguch, deputy director of Community Development, filled in for former Planning Director Nathan Jones after his departure from township government.

The first project discussed was Hamilton Square Conditional Use. The project was represented by Joseph Piperato and Bud Newton of Newton Engineering. The project boarders Hamilton Crossings and has access to Hamilton Boulevard.

The lot currently consists of five properties with seven driveways. Newton said the plan would have two buildings with a total of 10,000 square feet. He said there would be a restaurant on the property.

Newton said he would remove the seven existing driveways and there would only be one for the property. He also talked about having an asphalt walkway between the two buildings.

There was a discussion about trip generation and the traffic flow. Newton said the storefronts will be facing Hamilton Boulevard. He also talked about the dark sky compliant lighting on the property.

The planning commission had concerns with the placement of the buildings. They asked for the buildings to be oriented toward the street.

A lot line adjustment for Hamilton Square was on the agenda for this meeting, but it was postponed. A motion to recommend approval of the conditional use to the board of commissioners passed unanimously.

The second project discussed was Bethany United Methodist Church. The project was represented by Newton and Steve Schaefer.

Bethany currently has two locations: 1208 Brookside Road and 3801 Brookside Road. They are looking to consolidate to one location at 1208 Brookside Road and would like to expand their parking as well as an addition to the existing building there.

The building addition would involve making the rear of the building more Americans with Disabilities Act accessible and putting in a canopy in the rear of the building. Newton explained the plan would be to pave the overflow parking on the property.

There was a discussion about the stormwater basin on the property. Newton asked to defer the installation of curbing or sidewalk.

Newton asked for items like curbing, islands, lighting and EV charging to be grandfathered in from a previous 2002 land development plan. The planning commission said a pedestrian walkway and lighting in the parking lot are important for safety.

It was explained Newton would have to go to the zoning hearing board to get relief on these items. The discussion was tabled until the next meeting

The next Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting will be Nov. 12. 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.