The Dec. 10 meeting of the Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission involved two projects, 617 North Krocks Road Mixed Use and Bethany United Methodist Church Lot Line Adjustment. The North Krocks Road project was removed from the agenda.

The Bethany United Methodist Church project was represented by the applicant, Erik Dalstad and Engineer Bud Newton of Newton Engineering. The property is located at 1208 Brookside Road.

Newton said they withdrew the land development plan discussed last month and wanted to focus on the lot line adjustment.

Newton started talking about the right of way on the property, saying they had dedicated a 40-foot right of way to the township when they had an expansion in 1991.

The property the church is on is 4.9 acres and the three lots the church is looking to purchase are 0.44, 0.44 and 0.87 acres.

The township encouraged the church to purchase these lots because they encompass the stormwater pond and would help meet impervious coverage requirements for the church’s proposed expansion.

Newton said he was looking for a waiver on the 50-foot right of way along Brookside Road. Newton said the current 40-foot half width right of way would allow Brookside Road to be expanded to five 12-foot lanes with two 10-foot side areas for sidewalks or facilities.

Newton also said an additional 10-foot right of way would encroach upon the grading of the detention pond.

The detention pond was built using 1977 standards and does not meet the current standards. It was suggested if the right of way was expanded to encroach upon the detention pond, the pond would not be able to be expanded if necessary.

Newton also said the expanded right of way would make the property more nonconforming because the building would be right up against the building restriction lines.

Township Engineer Bryan McAdam said offering the right of way to the township does not mean they will accept it. He added the township is unlikely to accept the offer.

McAdam said since Brookside Road is a state highway, the township is unlikely to accept the offered right of way.

There was also a discussion about impervious surface on the property.

A motion to recommend approval of the lot line adjustment to the board of commissioners passed with a denial of the right of way waiver.

The next Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting will be Jan. 14, 2025. 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 December.

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.