The prospect of using vacant property near downtown Allentown did not impress Lehigh County commissioners to vote favor of developing the land during their Aug. 28 meeting.

During their Aug. 28 meeting, commissioners voted down the 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,"said Borko Milosev, owner of Post Road Management LLC, Allentown. "Unfortunately, it is now vacant and unutilized."

Milosev said he and his partner intend to develop the 235,000-square-foot property, 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, which once was home to Adelaide Mills, is located within a Keystone Opportunity Zone.

Allentown Director of Community and Economic Development Sara Hailstone asked commissioners defer their vote until their second meeting in September.

Postponing the vote, Hailstone said, would allow the board to review all 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 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 vacant.

"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.

He added, 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 out from under the school board," said Dougherty, who supported deferring the vote until the second meeting in September.

In other business, commissioners voted unanimously to approve the 2014-18 capital plan of $44.7 million.

The proposal 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 going forward," Dougherty said.