Lehigh Township Planning Commission met Dec. 12 to discuss updates on the Walmart project, planned for Route 145.

The supercenter store will abut the Hills of Greenock, and most of the people attending the meeting were residents of that development.

Sean Delaney, council for Walmart, reported there was little to update the planning commission about since there have already been multiple iterations.

John Hornick, engineer for Walmart, said sidewalks have been added along Birch Drive. There has been talk with Phil Malitsch, township engineer, about uncontained runoff and energy dissipators to cut down on flows. More detention ponds and bigger on-site facilities are planned.

The building has been given a different shape, and new sound studies are being done.

“Walmart has a rigorous audit before application to the conservation district,” said Hornick.

Planner David Shulman, chair of the commission, said he understands the public will have questions they want answered.

He said he believed left and right turn lanes should be included. If, in the future, the remaining land is developed, it will need the ability to go onto Birch Drive.

Malitsch said, by township ordinance, if traffic reaches a certain volume, it has to be designed to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation standards.

John Wichner, traffic planner, said PennDOT has actually counted cars and made projections into the future. There were three counts made: rush hours, 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m., and Saturday at mid-day. There were counts taken at nine intersections, with the major one at Birch Drive and Route 145. By Penn DOT estimates, there would be 700 vehicles in a 24-hour period.

The intersection at Washington Street would be realigned.

There will be a gas station with five pumps and 10 fueling stations.

Vegetation will be removed to increase sight distance.

Planner Cindy Miller said she would rather have bus stops moved into the development instead of along the road, but Malitsch said it would be a liability issue to have them stop on development property.

Shulman asked for information on the largest truck that would come in. It would be a WE57 semi – no doubles. The truck lanes will be 25 feet wide with parking along the sides. Shulman wants to see more detail of the area. There will be a pickup area in the back where trucks are parked. Malitsch said that would be a drive-through, not a parking space.

Resident Martin Baksembaum asked about the increase in runoff and how it will affect the rural aspects of the community. On the second issue, Shulman said it is a permitted use at that location.

Baksembaum also asked about the possibility of failure, making reference to a supermarket in Walnutport that ultimately closed its doors. That would be a business decision, not a planner’s concern, Shulman said.

Resident Al Bodzin asked about a ground-breaking date. Delaney said it all depends on permit clearances.

Shulman said it would probably be 2019 until the parties are finished with the number of variables.

Resident Jim Albert asked how many bays there would be for tractor trailers and non-Walmart trucks used for overstock. Hornick said that information depends on the sound studies.

Resident Mike Gabovitz asked about the sound wall between Walmart and the Hills of Greenock. Shulman said it was part of an earlier, already-discussed plan.

Hornick said there is sewage capacity at the Walnutport Authority.

Resident Lorraine Wessner asked about lighting at the intersections. Shulman said it should be considered at both intersections.

In other business, planners discussed Weiner’s Auto Services, 4811 Lehigh Drive, and an issue that the business may affect stormwater. Malitsch said the land use is a concern. The proposed 120-foot building will have four bays with 60 percent used for storage.

Weiner said he wants to keep the rural aspect. He expects 15 cars a day and said he does mostly motor work. He said he was just giving a little history on the company and did not expect an answer that day. The person he bought the property from was present at the meeting and said although it was used for warehousing, it had been previously used for auto repair and was permitted.