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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

LOWER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP

The Lower Macungie Planning Commission held its regular meeting June 9, discussing the proposed warehouses located on Spring Creek Properties' lots along Mill Creek Road.

The commission raised concerns regarding a lack of a post-construction stormwater management plan, requiring the proprietors submit a plan one week prior to meeting with the Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners.

The revised construction plan submitted to the commission contained several changes from previous drafts including an increased truck staging area and an area allocated for storage of empty trailers.

Committee member Ann Bartholomew worried the storage area would become a "graveyard of unused trailers." The planning commission was assured the unused trailers are still active and in circulation.

Committee member Brent McNabb also suggested the current plan contains inadequate fire safety measures. While the developers have provided an adequate number of fire hydrants near the warehouse (zoning laws require hydrants in 300-foot intervals) McNabb was concerned there were an inadequate number of hydrants near the perimeter of the complex, in the event outlying trucks would catch fire.

The contractors were not at liberty to discuss what would be contained in and shipped out of the warehouse, due to tenant privacy issues, but clarified no items would be "highly flammable or hazardous."

The plan also contains a 10,000 gallon tank for above-ground storage of diesel fuel.

There are two proposed LANTA bus stops in the warehouse complex, but planning is still in the preliminary stages. The final determination of those stops would be at the discretion of LANTA.

The planning commission tabled the warehouse plan with no motion carried.

The planning commission submitted a project list to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission for inclusion in the MOVELV initiative. The project requests from municipalities were vetted by PennDOT officials for inclusion into the program.

Of the eight projects the Lower Macungie Planning Commission submitted, four were selected to be included in the draft plan. The projects include improvements to the Minesite Road and Cedar Crest Boulevard intersection, the Route 222 and Hamilton Boulevard convergence, the Route 222 east lane over the Pennsylvania Turnpike and improvements to the Interstate 78 and Route 222 Interchange.

The estimated collective costs of the projects are approximately $44 million.

Other proposed projects such as improvements to Brookside Road including bike ways, lanes, bridges and additional turning lanes, are expected to be funded through other initiatives.

Planning member George Doughty announced he would be leading dual-residency in both Lower Macungie and Chicago, due to a professional opportunity presented to his wife. He stressed Lower Macungie would be his primary residence and it would not interfere with his ability to serve his term on the planning commission.

The planning commission also discussed a waiver request from Beit Simcha Synagogue. There was no motion carried.