In the absence of President Darryl Snover and supervisor member Keith Hantz, Vice President Sandra Hopkins was in charge of the June 9 supervisors' meeting at Lehigh Township.

David Jaindl's plans for the 460 acres of the Mary Immaculate seminary lands were further explained following May 26 outline.

He said 278 acres of the property are in Lehigh Township between Cherryville and Indian Trail roads.

He said there would be 250 senior adult units, a village-type area and single homes. Jaindl has the entire property under purchase agreement but he wants the concept plan out there before making the purchase.

There are some restriction on the use of the property such as that the building will not be torn down. The purchase will be from the Philadelphia diocese but the Allentown diocese will be in charge of checking that work remains within the restrictions.

"We will repurpose the building for things like a deluxe spa and weddings and a banquet hall. Because some of the rooms are cubicles, some of the interior walls will have to be removed to make larger rooms," he said. Later in the meeting he added a medical office to the uses, possibly in a wing.

There will be a total of 500 residential units with no industrial uses. Steep slope areas will not be used except for things like hiking trails.

There is an old dirt road that led to Indian Trail Road. If reopened it may help with possible traffic problems. According to traffic counts the traffic will be predictable and manageable. The half of the units to be for seniors means less traffic.

PennDOT will require a highway occupancy permit.

Jaindl forsees acquisition of the land in the next couple of months with development to start in 2 to 5 years. The repurposing will be the first definitive plan.

Sewage will be through the Pennsville plant which is designed to handle 60.000 gallons but is now operating at 10,000 gallons.

Fire Chief Rick Hildebrand asked about water for fire fighting. Jaindl said the building is mostly masonry and steel, neither of which is flammable.

Hildebrand asked about water storage for the residential buildings. Jaindl said there could be two 10,000 gallons tanks.

The streets will be private so there will be no upkeep cost to the township.

Police Chief Scott Fogel said police coverage will have to be evaluated.

Hanover Engineering will look at the stormwater plan. Zoning is for one-acre residential lots.

Deed covenants for the properties involve outside size, materials used and landscaping.

In the village area there will be multi-family housing, either twin or townhouses.

If more water, enough for the 250 homes, is withdrawn, Jaindl was asked if it would affect the overall water supply. He said that will have to studied.

"You have a detailed conceptual plan. We have done this often enough that we know what people want," Jaindl said.

A buffer zone will be provided in areas where low density housing abuts a high density area.

Supervisor Cindy Miller said the seminary was abandoned in 2008. The land was originally granted and was to remain religious in use.

The building was constructed in 1933. The land was taken over in 1998 by the Philadelphia diocese and there were no deed restrictions. The diocese wanted to remove some things like the stained glass windows but Jaindl did not want them removed. Philadelphia wanted another buyer but no one came up to meet the price.

A year ago a nonprofit wanted it but could not meet the price.

"It has to be developed in an appropriate manner for the church. The plan will go to Solicitor David Backenstore and then the planning commission," Jaindl said.

He continued to answer questions in the lobby following his presentation of the conceptual plan and answering general questions..