Developers of the Fields at Indian Creek, a 218-unit adult community in Upper Milford Township and the borough of Emmaus, won one and lost one in discussions with Upper Milford supervisors Dec. 18.

During the wide-ranging discussion of the proposal with representatives of Kay Builders, supervisors agreed to one waiver requested by the developer, but opposed another.

Supervisors supported the developer's request to reduce the width of cul de sacs within the development from 50 to 45 feet, but said they want sidewalks on both sides of the streets of the development, not just one, as requested by the developer.

Jeff Chandler of Kay Builders, along with Douglas White and Lewis Rauch of Lehigh Engineering, reviewed with supervisors a variety of issues related to the development, which is still in its preliminary stages.

The development lies along the southwest corner of the intersection of Chestnut Street and Cedar Crest Boulevard, partly on the site of the former Indian Creek Golf Club, at the south end of Emmaus.

Kay Builders is proposing 218 single homes for adults 55 and over, to be built in phases. The streets within the development will be privately owned and there will be a swimming pool and clubhouse for residents of the development.

Rauch said the 45-foot width of the cul de sacs meets the turning radius for fire trucks, and supervisor George DeVault said, "If the fire department is satisfied, I'm satisfied."

With regard to sidewalks, the township planning commission split 4-4 on whether to allow sidewalks on just one side of the streets, as the developer requested. Supervisors voted 2-0, with Robert Sentner abstaining, to deny the request.

There was also a lengthy discussion about the open space to be included in the development.

Rauch said about 14 acres along Leibert Creek will be designated public open space and private open space will include the pool and clubhouse, as well as walking trails and a bike path along Indian Creek Road.

Some of the trails will also be open to the public, he said, and eventually, it would be possible to walk all the way from Camp Olympic in Lower Macungie Township to the shops in the strip malls on Chestnut Street.

Supervisors asked who would own the designated public open space and emphatically agreed they don't want the township to own it.

Solicitor Marc Fisher said other options for ownership would include the homeowners association for the development, the Wildlands Conservancy or the school district.

Chandler said most likely, the homeowners association would own the land initially and possibly work with the conservancy to look into transferring ownership.

Developers and supervisors also debated the fees the developer would pay to the township in lieu of open space. Sentner mentioned an amount of $582,750, based on the number of units, while Chandler said they came up with an estimate of about $195,000.

Supervisors asked township staff to come up with a possible compromise proposal. Both sides said they could probably reach agreement.

In other business Dec. 18, supervisors agreed to purchase a new truck and plow to replace a 2009 Ford truck and plow which were totaled in an accident during the pre-Thanksgiving snowstorm. The total cost will be about $31,000 and the township's insurance company will give the township about $23,000 for the loss.

A couple of audience members questioned why a junior employee was driving the truck at the time of the accident and contended when that individual was hired, the public was told he would not be driving township vehicles. Sentner said they would look into it.

Sentner also reported a response was received from PennDOT regarding closing a section of Indian Creek Road.

PennDOT has promised to do a study of the road in the next six to eight weeks.