The prospect of utilizing vacant property located near downtown Allentown did not impress the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners to vote in the affirmative to develop the land during their Aug. 28 meeting.

The commissioners voted down a tax zone plan, 6-3, with Commissioners Percy Dougherty, Daniel McCarthy and David Jones voting to defer the vote until the Sept. 25 meeting.

"It is a very large factory," Borko Milosev, owner of Post Road Management LLC in Allentown said. "Unfortunately it is now vacant and un-utilized."

Milosev said he and his partner intend to develop the 235,000-square-foot property, which is located at 333 Crane St., into 150 one and two bedroom apartments. The total cost of the project, he said, would range from $25 million to $27 million.

The property once served as Adelaide Mills and is located within a Keystone Opportunity Zone.

Allentown Director of Community and Economic Development Sara Hailstone requested the board of commissioners defer their vote until the commissioners' second meeting in September. Postponing the vote, Hailstone said, would allow the commissioners to review all available information provided on the development plan and allow the Allentown School Board to reconsider its previous vote.

Commissioner Michael Schware said he was against deferring the vote.

"There's little to no job creation here," he said. "I think it's important to look at the cost to the school district [Allentown]."

Commissioner Vic Mazziotti said he is opposed to offering tax abatements for such properties.

"I will not be voting for any tax advantages for rental properties in the city," he said. "My vote will be no now and no in the future."

Milosev strongly urged the commissioners to defer their vote as the building has been sitting idle for many years and more than likely would continue to remain in a vacant state.

"We think it's hard or next to impossible," he said of using the property for industrial and commercial use. "This project simply can't and won't happen without any incentives."

Commissioner Scott Ott asked what the tax impact would be to the community. Milosev said the project would require about $4 million in generated taxes. Milosev said, however, he would be taking on the responsibility for the development costs associated with the project.

Milosev added the only option would be to develop the property for 75 percent residential use and the remaining 25 percent for other uses.

"I think we have really pulled the carpet under the school board," Dougherty, who supported deferring the vote until next month, said.

In other business, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the 2014-2018 capital plan amounting to $44.7 million. The plan includes 76 projects with $2.8 million funded for in the 2014 budget.

"This is sort of a best guess effort by the administration of what we will need in going forward," Dougherty said.

The next Board of Commissioners meeting will be held 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11 in the public hearing room of the Lehigh County Government Center, 17 S. Seventh St., Allentown.