As more changes to the Macungie Borough zoning ordinance were announced at borough council's meeting Oct. 21 it was clear the council and the Planning Commission had listened closely to residents' requests and accommodated them.

Brian Nixon, zoning officer for the borough, reviewed the changes before council.

Residents of Race Street between Locust and Cedar who are currently in a manufacturing district were scheduled to be moved into an R-7.8 district, a specified density residential district without the manufacturing uses they had previously.

One resident representing himself and neighbors had asked council to reconsider the change, and absorb their properties into the new light industrial commercial district forming around the hub of the Allen Organ company property. Planning Commission agreed to this; the change applies to properties on the west side of Race Street.

Trustees of Kalmbach Park were concerned the ordinance change in their property from R-10 to a newly created conservation/recreation district would jeopardize their property value should they ever wish or need to sell. Kalmbach Park was given back the R-10 designation after Planning Commission heard therequest.

Other changes include the addition of a crematorium special use designation in the light industrial commercial district by request of a resident, slight changes in wording regarding flood plains to keep the ordinance consistent with the most current flood plain maps, and a clause stating screening Dumpsters is only required when the Dumpster is fewer than 100 feet from the lot line or street.

Macungie Memorial Park will remain a conservation/recreation district under the new zoning ordinance as a change was not requested, but concerns about new noise restrictions may be allayed. A special exemption is now included for fireworks and festivals in the park.

Keeping Macungie Memorial as a CR district gives the borough more control over its use, Nixon said. The intention is for the park to be preserved for future generations rather than allowing for the chance of it being developed, as could happen with Kalmbach Park as an R-10 district.

A CR district is defined in the ordinance as permitting limited residential development, including single family detached dwelling units. But the emphasis is on public use and conservation. An R-10 district is a low-density residential area which includes public parks and playgrounds in its uses.

Council passed a motion to forward the revised zoning ordinance to Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, allowing also for the borough solicitor to review the document for legal pitfalls and inconsistencies. LVPC has 45 days to review, which is likely to be much less since it has already reviewed the ordinance once and only a few changes have been made.

Macungie must take formal action on the ordinance before year's end according to the terms of the grant that funds the changes. The earliest possible date for the public hearing before adopting the ordinance is Dec. 16; this may change according to how quickly LVPC reviews the draft.

Council President Chris Becker opposed moving forward with the ordinance on grounds of an issue raised regarding his property both at the last council meeting and Planning Commission meeting Oct. 8. Becker said he would not take "any decision making power" on this action so it could not be said he acted with "impropriety." Without Becker's vote, however, the council did not have quorum; it was determined he could abstain but when the vote was called he opposed.

In a brief but proud ceremony to open the meeting, Macungie Ambulance Corps was recognized for saving the life of Phillip Solomon who went into cardiac arrest at Macungie Memorial Park on Aug. 24. The Ambulance Corps and the police were able to respond immediately to Solomon's emergency, performing CPR for 20 minutes and administering nine electric shocks to start his heart on the way to Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest.

Mayor Gary Cordner presented letters of commendation to the corps, stating, "It is quite a testament to their skill that they could do what they did." State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-134th, was also present to commend the members of the corps.

In other business, Borough Manager Chris Boehm reminded everyone that Macungie's Halloween Parade will take place 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26. Trick-or-Treat is on Halloween, 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Work begins on the Hill Street water main Oct. 23. The borough will collect leaves Oct. 28 to Nov. 25, and the borough garage is available for leaf drop-off, as well as the Emmaus facility for those with yard waste passes.