Project manager Mark Bradbury presented a request to South Whitehall commissioners for rezoning a 7.3-acre portion of land at the northwest corner of Route 309 and Snowdrift Road from Rural Residential to Neighborhood Commercial.

During the board’s Oct. 3 meeting, Bradbury stated a section of the tract owned by Theodore and Lynn Lopsonzski along Blue Barn Road is suitable for five or six houses.

Bradbury said the remaining portion includes a drainage channel, swale and a banked area.

“It was my suggestion to rezone because it is not good for development,” Bradbury said. “There is nothing specific in mind now. It is not subdivided, and there’s no buyer.

“It is a unique property. Some sits on a plateau.

“It is a sad situation with the flood plain taking over Guthsville.”

Commissioner Matt Mulqueen was reluctant to proceed with the rezoning.

“Let’s look at this with the comprehensive plan,” Mulqueen said.

“We can discuss it when we’re looking at the township as a whole.”

Board President Christina “Tori” Morgan concurred.

“Whatever we decide to do has to make sense with the whole plan,” Morgan said. “We need to look at the whole picture.”

The township’s 2009 comprehensive plan will be studied and updated during or after its 10th anniversary in 2019.

Bradbury said, in the past, one of his plans needed to be put on hold for two years while awaiting preparation of the comprehensive plan, and he prefers that not happen again.

“I think this project does have merit,” Bradbury said. “I don’t think it will have an impact on the comprehensive plan.

“It’s an isolated piece of the world with roads on all sides like a caged animal.”

Director of Community Development George Kinney commented on the comprehensive plan review.

“We anticipate to start the plan as early as next year,” Kinney said.

“We have a pretty solid plan now. We’ve already had some discussions on developing a time plan. I don’t anticipate a long process.”

Morgan brought the matter to a close.

“We have to make sure it makes sense for the future of the township,” Morgan said.

The property is located near the Jordan Lutheran Church sign at Route 309 and Snowdrift Road.