Jeff Strauss of Elysium Acquisitions came to South Whitehall commissioners March 18 with a revised sketch plan for development of a 3.35-acre parcel he refers to as "30 West."

The tract lies east of the Cedar Crest Boulevard McDonald's restaurant with boundaries along W. Washington and N. 30th streets.

Strauss proposes "a private enclave of luxurious homesites quietly nestled in the South Whitehall section of the deep West End."

The plan includes 16 building lots and two open lots with access through N. 31st Street and N. Marshall Street, which are not public roads at this time.

Most of the houses will be twins with double garages.

Paul Lees, 744 N. Marshall St., expressed dismay township staff and commissioners want to facilitate Strauss' plan to open N. Marshall Street for placement of eight housing units surrounding a cul-de-sac.

"He has no right to come through on N. Marshall Street," Lees said. "Why would South Whitehall do this just for a developer? He bought this lot knowing the condition of it.

"We have full mature sycamores, which would be lost due to digging for sewer, water and other utilities."

Strauss replied to Lees comments.

"I will preserve those trees," Strauss said. "N. Marshall Street with the beautiful sycamores is a great entrance to my development."

His proposal includes minimizing any disruption to the streetscape along N. Marshall and N. 31st streets through reduction of the cartway and waivers to sidewalk requirements.

George Mulhern, 745 N. Marshall St., expressed concern about the amount of traffic which will come on his street with the addition of the homes along the cul-de-sac.

Township Manager Howard Kutzler said from a planning perspective Strauss' proposal provides for water, sewer and stormwater management.

"This is a better plan than the commercial option," Kutzler said.

Lees continued to question the township's assistance.

According to the pre-development agreement, Strauss will have to obtain right-of-way from property owners along N. 31st Street and N. Marshall Street.

If he is unsuccessful, the township could exercise its power of eminent domain, which could have a negative effect on the existing N. Marshall Street homes, through the process of eminent domain.

Lees was told the township cannot limit the right of an owner to develop his property.