With the final details of the Health Care Overlay District and Transitional Overlay District reviewed and approved by the Salisbury Township Planning Commission, public meetings on the new Zoning Ordinance are in the offing.

"The end is in sight," said Charlie Schmehl, vice president, Urban Research and Land Development Corp., consultant to the township for the update of its Comprehensive Plan, which has been completed, and the Zoning Ordinance, as well as the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.

The Zoning Ordinance and the SALDO are under review by the Lehigh County Planning Commission.

The date for the zoning ordinance public hearing, which is required, has not been set.

Township commissioners must also hold a public hearing on the zoning ordinance. The hearing also has not been announced.

At the Sept. 10 planners' meeting, when a one-hour discussion took place, Schmehl distributed copies of the September draft of the proposed new township zoning map, copies of which are available for public inspection.

The overlay districts were prompted by township residents' concerns about construction and development at Lehigh Valley Network - Cedar Crest.

A committee of LVHN officials and neighboring residents was organized at the recommendation of planning commission member Glenn Miller. The committee has met frequently.

Township and hospital officials have also met during the course of the approximate two-year process in updating the township plan and zoning.

"I want to thank everyone for cooperating. This went from a mess that started one and one-half years ago. We've become friends again," Chuck Siuciak said, one of the neighbors who lives near LVHN.

Atty. John W. Ashley, of the Davison & McCarthy law firm, township and planning commission solicitor, reviewed the zoning ordinance draft, dated Sept. 10 and presented his comments at the Sept. 10 planners' meeting.

In reviewing the overlay district, James A. Rothdeutsch, senior manager, The Pidcock Company, Lehigh Valley Health Network consultants, said approximately 20 percent, or about 20 to 21 acres, of the 106-acre LVH campus, is open space.

Planning Commission Vice Chairman Stephen J. McKitish, Jr. asked about the terminology regarding utility building and positioning and size of oxygen tanks at LVHN.

Rothdeutsch recommended using the term "power plant" to distinguish it from the term "utility building."

Addressing McKitish's other concern, Brian Hardner, vice president, facilities and construction, Lehigh Valley Health Network, said, "If we want to add a tank, it could be appropriately landscaped."