Toll Brothers cleared the final hurdle in its quest for approval of a 232-unit, age-qualified development along Route 512 near Jaindl Road. Catherine Durso, of Fitzpatrick, Lentz and Bubba, P.C., represented Toll Brothers in its appearance before East Allen Township’s board of supervisors Feb. 8. The conditional use hearing was followed by two ordinances. The board approved the project unanimously.

The board asked Toll Brothers to confirm numerous verbal agreements. The conditional use hearing formally approved the agreements.

The project was originally presented in 2014. Part of the delay getting approval for the project hinged on public water and sewer services provided to the development.

Water and sewer services to the development are provided by Bethlehem Authority. Bethlehem has a priority for water service in East Allen Township. Sewer service in the township is not as clearly defined. The township has several providers for sewer lines. For this development, sewage needs to be transported through lines controlled by Hanover Township, Northampton County, and then connected to treatment by Bethlehem.

Two companion ordinances set up an intermunicipal agreement with Hanover Township to transport sewage through its lines and an agreement with Bethlehem to treat sewage from the development.

East Allen officials asked for several changes to the original application. One requirement called for a collector road at the north end of the project. The road is designed to reduce random traffic entering Route 512. The road requirement increased the size of the project to 100 acres.

“We are still keeping the project with less density than required by the zoning ordinance. We included a community center, pool and other amenities while still keeping half the project as open space,” said Michael Dougherty, senior project manager for Toll Brothers.

The board asked for a revision to the original plan that called for setbacks of at least 50 feet. In the prior plan, there were instances where the setback standard was not met. Toll Brothers rearranged its configuration to conform to the requirement. In the new configuration, there are 142 single-family homes, 36 duplexes and 54 triplex units. The engineer on this project is Jeff Madden, of ESE Consultants.

The project will be run by a homeowners association. Toll Brothers will set up and define the association.

“We have a lot of experience setting up and running these types of associations. They are difficult, but there is adequate funding in the project to make sure the association is properly funded and can meet its responsibilities while units are sold. The goal is to turn over to the members of the homeowners association a fully functioning system that they can continue to manage,” Dougherty said.

The project will be surrounded by an undulating berm along Route 512. The berm is designed to reduce noise from the busy highway. A neighbor questioned whether dips in the berm could cause wind whirlpools. Madden said it was not a concern.

“In the areas where the berm dips down, we intend to plant larger trees to delay the wind,” he said.

Dougherty expects the project to start in 2018. There was no defined completion date.