Parkland Manor Vice President David Harte, a retirement facility underway at the former West End Racquetball Club, asked South Whitehall commissioners to approve additional rooms for the venture.

Harte reported, during the April 18 meeting, market studies indicate more single occupancy rooms, than the architect had originally proposed, are recommended.

“We have a big demand for private occupancy rooms,” Harte told the board. “That’s the demand in the market place.

“We’ll have the same number of people.

“This change will not increase our bed count beyond the 197 beds the project was approved for.”

He said the revised plan includes an addition out over the existing basketball court and replacing the swimming pool with lawn.

The property, owned by PA Venture Capital Inc., is located on a 13.9 acre site at 4636 Crackersport Road.

In September 2016, the company received special exception approval from the zoning hearing board and, in February 2017, was granted a waiver from formal review of subdivision and land development regulations.

Commissioners approved the request for additional rooms in the plan.

In other business, township Manager Renee Bickel reported engineering studies will soon begin at Wehr’s Dam.

“They have to wait until the water level is down low enough to take measurements,” Bickel said. “Michael Baker is working on this.”

Public Works Manager Jeff Clapper noted the department is busy now setting up baseball fields, mulching, preparing lawn mowing tractors, and putting snow removal equipment away.

Township engineer Ralph Russek stated the Nestle improvement project is getting started; Blue Barn Meadows Stage II is ready to proceed; and work on the sidewalks at Cedar Point West on the Wawa side will begin soon.