Residents of Macungie Borough filled the seats at Macungie Institute Oct. 7 at a public hearing of proposed changes to the borough's zoning ordinance.

Some properties will be affected by the re-zoning plan that casts several large chunks of Macungie in a different light. But nothing has been passed yet as the ordinance, which faces more slight revisions after council's meeting, must also be approved by Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and the surrounding municipalities of the Southwestern Lehigh Comprehensive Plan.

One of the most salient changes is the institution of a new zoning district proposed to apply to Macungie Memorial Park, most of Kalmbach Park and other parks within Macungie. The Conservation and Recreation district is meant "to allow for recreational uses" according to a draft of the zoning plan, but representatives of Macungie's two largest parks are concerned about the long-term effects on property value and function in the parks.

Michael McCready addressed council on behalf of the Kalmbach Park Board of Trustees to express its apprehension of the proposed zoning ordinance. The trustees of Kalmbach Park are not interested in a change to the property's zoning which may decrease its value, something the board is charged by the will of the park's founder with protecting.

At present the park is zoned as R-10, a type of residential district intended for use of single family houses on lots of 10,000 square feet. The trustees of Kalmbach Park may choose to sell off part or all of the land if the park cannot be run efficiently, but McCready assured council the trustees have no plans whatsoever of selling any part of the park. In its re-zoned proposal, the western portion of Kalmbach is still zoned as R-10.

Amy Hillegass spoke up for Macungie Memorial Park, most of which will be rezoned as well. Hillegass read a formal letter to borough council, beginning by pointing out the park board was not involved in or consulted during the discussions of the zoning plan.

Macungie Memorial Park's board is also concerned about change in property value and in meeting the deed restrictions of the park land. The proposed zoning changes would designate the land between Lehigh Street and the railroad tracks as Light Industrial Commercial, a designation allowing for special exception uses, such as adult bookstores and gentlemen's clubs.

These special exception uses are a Federal requirement of municipalities; without meeting the requirement, Macungie could face the possibility of a gentleman's club or adult bookstore forcing itself on the borough by right.

Charlie Schmehl, who presented the zoning changes Monday night, assured council that while it is necessary for a physical space to exist wherein the adult usage right may be honored, it does not have to be available for usage. Restrictions were set up in the draft for such space to exist only within the LIC designated areas, well back from roads, parks, and the view of homes in the surrounding residential districts. This limits the area to the center of the Tyler Pipe property.

The Main Street Town Center designated zone is being expanded in the proposed draft to include more properties around the Chestnut Street intersection as well as to the northeast of Main Street by the railroad tracks. Schmehl emphasized the zoning does not allow for drive-through restaurants, auto sales or auto repair shops in order to encourage a "pedestrian orientation."

Additionally, the current manufacturing district would be largely replaced by a new Light Industrial Commercial district intended to allow fewer heavy industrial uses and more commercial uses. Some current parts of the district would be changed to residential districts in keeping with their adjacent neighborhoods.

A grant is paying for the recodification process up until the end of the year, and Macungie cannot get an extension, so council is on a tight schedule to adopt the proposal by Dec. 31. The Planning Commission is scheduled to look at the proposal at its Oct. 8 meeting and council must allow 45 days for planning to review the draft, after which there must be a public hearing.