At a time when Bethlehem Township residents have complained loudly to commissioners about traffic and storm waters, developer Lou Pektor has pitched yet another building project. This one is called Mill Creek Corporate Center, though there's no creek by that name in the township. Instead of straddling a stream, this 72-acre development is located along Route 33, extending from the William Penn Highway north to Church Road. It includes 10 of what Pektor calls "Class A" office buildings, to be built over ten years, and occupy 550,000 to 600,000 total square feet.

"Storm water is an issue; traffic is a huge issue," Pektor conceded. He indicated that he plans to set aside 15-20 acres for open space, though he acknowledged that land will be used to address storm water.

More than 60 percent of the project will be impervious coverage. "In looking at this, I just see blacktop," lamented Commissioner Martin Zawarski. He suggested that, instead of all those parking lots, the developer should construct a garage.

"I can't sit here and say we can afford to do it," responded Pektor. The "we" to who Pektor referred is PennCap Properties, which touts itself as "the leading owner and operator of class 'A' office and flex properties in the Lehigh Valley." Its portfolio includes 32 properties comprising approximately 1.4 million square feet of office and office/flex space located in six corporate office parks within the Lehigh Valley.

Phil Barnard challenged Pektor to explain what benefits this development would bring to the township.

"One-hundred twenty-five million," was Pektor's reply, indicating the value of the project. "We'll not create one child," he added, referring to the drain that residential dwellings place on school districts.

"We have an area problem," Commissioner Tom Nolan told Pektor, ticking off some planned and existing developments at Green Pond, William Penn Highway and a 802-unit Madison Farms project on Freemansburg Avenue. Nolan worried about how to address William Penn Highway, which might need widening. He said there is no public sewer or water at the proposed site, and wondered whether there would be capacity available.