With two items on Allen Township Planning Commission’s July 16 agenda, the most immediate matter was the Jaindl-Watson land development plan. Based on the outcome of a previous supervisors’ meeting and a review of the plan by the planning commission and township Engineer Robert Cox, there were details that needed clarification.

The official owner had a name change to JW Development Partners. They were formerly JW Jaindl Land Company/David M. Jaindl.

Bruce Anderson, of The Pidcock Company, represented the owner at the meeting. He reviewed a detailed letter prepared by the planning commission and asked for clarification on a few pertinent points.

The first point was a stated agreement to alter the slope of the detention basin. Anderson clarified the developer was referring to the slope of the bottom of the basin. The basin has steep sidewalls to prevent geese from nesting. That stays. There will also be a permanent water level in the basin. The water’s depth will vary depending on the stormwater level. The commission agreed to the modification.

Item two allows the developer to defer installing sidewalks on the north side of the property. They will be installed when needed. Sidewalks on the south side of the street are required. The required sidewalks bring transit riders from the bus stop to the warehouses.

The township has a rule requiring permits and documents from outside agencies be submitted with the preliminary plan. A developer cannot finalize the necessary paperwork until the preliminary plan is approved. Anderson asked for and received permission to delay submitting documents until the final plan.

“The rule was put in there to prevent us from going through the development process only to find out it would not be approved,” Chairman Eugene Clater said.

The developer has received preliminary approvals from agencies and is now moving to finalize all the documents.

The next item was Mud Lane. By agreement, the developer will run an 8-inch water line to the development around East Allen Gardens. Mud Lane will be milled, and a new asphalt drive coat will be laid.

“We are not going to expand Mud Lane. We want people using our road, the new Seemsville Road. It will be a better way to get to Route 329,” Anderson said after the meeting.

There is a restriction that a developer cannot build in a floodplain, but the plan calls for a culvert to be installed.

“The intent was to be sure new buildings are not built in a floodway,” Cox said.

The township will give the developer a waiver on this provision.

Other details that need to be worked out include access to the new open space requirement. The commissioners want to see how public access can be provided.

“Elevated walkways across the wetlands are possible but very expensive,” Cox said. “A better way is to get trails through the park.”

There is a steep grade toward Howertown Road. Clater would like to see how a connection can be made from Howertown Road to the open space.

Planning commission members made a recommendation on the sewer line and want to be sure it stays on the plans as designed.

Clater indicated the township manager received written correspondence from East Allen Township regarding a joint meeting.

“I have no problem with the items [East Allen officials] addressed, but they are using the old plan,” Clater said.

He asked that East Allen be provided with the latest version.

The present goal is to get a revised plan that addresses the details discussed to the planning commission Aug. 6. That would give commission members time to review the plan and vote on it at their Aug. 20 meeting. The board of supervisors would review the plan and vote on it in September.

Jerry Neff, who resides along Route 329, said the new location of the Seemsville Road intersection will block his driveway, and he will not be able to get out safely. He said his neighbors have a similar concern. Neff made the same claim in February.

Anderson commented after the meeting that traffic will be markedly improved near the Kopper Penny intersection. Clater made similar statements. One requirement made mandatory by the planning commission is to have a post-operating traffic study.

“We don’t want something right after the warehouses open,” Clater said. “We need to see the impact on traffic.”