Borough council was approached at its meeting Sept. 4 about a proposal to move and complete Lumber Street as part of a long-term project for the opening of the new Devine School on Lehigh Street.

The project as proposed, involves the reconstruction of Lumber Street west of the Memorial Park, creating a new intersection with Lehigh Street, extending Lumber Street south to meet Main Street and installing a concrete sidewalk on one side, adjacent to the school, with curbing on both sides. Council was asked to consider several aspects of the project for approval including the dedication of part of the Devine's property to the borough.

Lumber Street is currently in deteriorating condition except for the stretch closest to Lehigh Street. The proposed project, while really separate from the construction of the Devine School, is important to accessing the property. The plan accommodates for increased traffic on a small portion of Lumber Street due to parents dropping children off at the school.

The project is not realistically slated for completion until 2014, almost a year after the Devines plan on opening the school. The immediate work necessary would be only minimal repairs on existing Lumber Street to allow for the increase in traffic to the property and work could progress for the subsequent year on the new street. The final plan for the property and finished street show the entrance and parking lot to the school flush with the new sidewalk and new street, where existing Lumber Street is currently.

Engineer William Erdman gave the estimated cost for the project, what he called a "not to exceed number" at $440,000. Erich Schoch, attorney for the Devines, presented council with his clients' willingness to provide up to $200,000 toward the construction of the new road. That number was originally proposed at a meeting Aug. 31 as a 50/50 mark, but since then Erdman said the estimate for the project had gone up.

Several council members expressed concern over access to the school during road construction. A cinder path running alongside the creek behind the school will provide access from Lehigh Street up to the far end of Lumber Street, where it will join another path to Main Street, eventually to be paved as part of the permanent sidewalk.

A small concern was for a couple of parking spaces on Lehigh Street that will be lost in the proposed new construction. These parking spaces, immediately abutting two residential properties without alternative parking access, would need to be removed in order to provide necessary turn clearance for the new intersection. The Devines' project proposes substituting a small "indented" section of the new Lumber Street adjacent to the properties to compensate for the lost parking spaces on Lehigh Street.

President Jean Nagle told council members they would need a commitment to have the new street done in the very near future after the day care is put in. Council agreed to meet for a workshop Sept. 13 to discuss the project and the land development plan will be reviewed at the second council meeting Sept. 17.

The new school will be the third Devine School in the area, in addition to locations in Cedar Crest Professional Park and Lower Macungie Township on Brookside Road.

Over 30 street trees have been recommended for removal by Macungie Public Works Supervisor Tracy Smith. Council was approached by a number of residents both inside and outside meetings who complained about sidewalks being torn up by the roots of trees. Smith estimated a cost of $798 per tree including removal, chipping, replacement and filling the vacant hole with concrete.

At Joe Sikorski's suggestion, council decided to send letters to those residents who have already complained stating there is no room in the current budget for the project but it will be considered for the 2013-2014 budget. Sikorski also suggested looking into cheaper estimates for the project by outside parties.