East Allen Township Board of Supervisors is in the process of preparing zoning ordinances for growing and distributing medical marijuana in the township. Solicitor Joseph Piperato prepared the ordinance in accordance with guidelines from Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. The board did want to review the proposed language in the ordinance.

Piperato stated there is at least one inquiry to set up a dispensary.

“They are asking for permission to open the dispensary in a PC-1 zoning district. Pharmaceutical stores are permitted in a PC-1,” Piperato said during the Feb. 23 meeting.

The former First National Bank of Bath, Route 329 in East Allen Township, is being proposed as a medical marijuana dispensary site. The office has been closed for decades after an armed robbery June 6, 1986, left three dead and two wounded. The gunmen, Martin Appel and Stanley Hertzog, fled the bank with just over $2,200. The were quickly apprehended and are serving life in prison.

Although the ordinance is not prepared, the intent of the ordinance is to permit the medical marijuana dispensaries in PC-1 districts.

As Piperato explained, there is a long list of restrictions and covenants that every owner must abide by.

“The number of dispensaries will be restricted, so a local operation here might not even be approved,” Piperato said.

Proprietors interested in getting a license must submit an application to the state in March.

“What they need from us is a letter saying they can have the space if they are approved by the state. I recommend that we go ahead and prepare the letter. We can make the ordinance retroactive to this date,” Piperato said.

Chairman Roger Unangst was reluctant to move forward but was persuaded to give his approval.

“What I do want to make sure is that [the petitioners] know they are going to have to comply with the ordinance,” he said.

In other action, township Engineer James Milot reported that problems with the Halbea Bridge appear to be fixed. Troubles with the bridge started months ago with a sinkhole that escalated. More sinkholes were discovered, there were foundation cracks and a myriad of engineering headaches discovered as work progressed.

“I think what we have now, after all the effort that we put into this project, is a bridge that is better than what we had,” he said.

Milot was not able to give a cost for the repairs; all the costs have not been tabulated.

Also at the meeting, township Manager Deborah Seiple reported the township has an existing agreement with Hough Associates to prepare and submit recycling grants. The funds lag the grant significantly.

“We still have not received funds we were authorized in 2014,” she said.

Seiple recommends the grant writing be brought back in house for 2016.

“I think we can do a capable job here and reduce the costs of the contract,” she said.

The board agreed with her assessment.

Supervisors granted an indemnification agreement to Check Real Estate Partnership. The agreement would allow the owners to proceed with expanding the parking lot.

“In most instances, projects are financed, and we require escrow,” Piperato explained. “They are contractors and will be doing this on their own. Everything will still be inspected, but we don’t need to establish escrow accounts.”

The board agreed to the process.