The Jan. 14 meeting of the Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission began with reorganization. Wesley Barrett was named chairman, Ryan Kennedy was named vice chairman and Ozias Moore was named secretary.

The meeting involved three projects: Western Lehigh Services, N.P. Land Holdings and Cherry Ridge Estates. There was also a review of the Alburtis Borough zoning request.

The first project discussed was the Western Lehigh Services land development plan. The project was represented by Engineer Ben Kutz of Gilmore and Associates; Jake Logenbach, vice president of Western Lehigh Services and Attorney Julie Wagner Burkart of Stevens and Lee.

The property is 20.8 acres and the project would include a construction and building supply business along with a showroom. There was a discussion about road widening, curbing and sidewalks on the property.

Since the bordering road is a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation road, the curbing and sidewalk decision may come down to them.

Kutz suggested deferring the sidewalk requirement and putting money for it in an escrow account. The planning commission said they prefer to not have a deferral.

Mike Siegel, a resident of Aster Road, asked questions about drainage issues on the property. Siegel also talked about the need for a deceleration lane in front of the property.

The second project discussed was N.P. Land Holdings sketch plan. The project was represented by Attorney Erich Schock of Fitzpatrick Lentz and Bubba and Alan Fornwalt of Keystone Consulting Engineers.

The project would be a light industrial manufacturing facility including a one-story building, parking lot and loading area for trucks. There would also be a rest area for truck drivers on the property.

The property would have two driveways that come off Industrial Park Way. One would be for trucks while the other would be for automobile traffic. Fornwalt said the traffic should flow toward Route 100.

The next project discussed was the Cherry Ridge Estates Sketch Plan. The project was represented by Zach Arnold with Seven Development Group and Brian Boyer with Boyer Engineering Associates.

The property would be on a 10-acre lot and include 13 single family homes. The project intends to use the township’s open space neighborhood development guidelines. The project would include a single cul-de-sac and significant walking trails.

Arnold said he moved the developed portion and the stormwater basin out of the 500-year flood plain. Arnold talked about connecting the walking path to the park behind the property.

There was a discussion about Arnold showing his tabulations to prove open space criteria is met. The township asked for some more separation between the sidewalk and retaining wall on the property. The road on the property will be private.

The final item discussed was the Borough of Alburtis rezoning request. This involves three parcels along the border between Lower Macungie Township and the Borough of Alburtis.

The area is currently zoned light industrial, office and research and Alburtis wants to change it to medium density residential. The planning commission mentioned the lots were in a flood hazard area.

The next Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting will be Feb. 11. 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 meeting in January.

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.