The July 9 meeting of the Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission focused on the Mountain View Estates development and the 5G ordinance.

A discussion of the Mack Trucks proposed parking improvements was scheduled, but the applicant asked to have the discussion postponed until the next meeting. Mack Trucks wants to add a small building to the property for staging purposes.

The Mountain View Estates development was represented by Bud Newton of Newton Engineering and Catherine Durso of Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C. There were concerns about stormwater. Each lot would only have 300 feet of impervious coverage, which might not allow much room for improvements in the backyards.

The planning commission also discussed the detention pond on the property. They wanted to ensure the detention pond would drain within 12 hours. There were questions about the side slopes for the detention pond. The planning commission didn’t want the side slopes to be steeper than a 6-1 ratio, while the current ratio is 4.5-1.

There was a discussion about the pipeline easement planned on the property. The property would have a recreation area with a 6-foot path around it. Newton talked about using spray irrigation overnight on the recreation area. The irrigation would spread about a half an inch of water a night.

There was a debate about whether the sidewalks and walking path should be concrete or asphalt. It was questioned whether the recreation area should be private or public.

The planning commission talked about whether the pipeline going through the recreation area be excluded from the developer’s recreation land area. It would be a difference of $11,000 to $12,000 in recreation fees. A decision was made the pipeline easement would not count toward the recreation area.

The planning commission wanted to discuss adding landscaping on a few properties that border existing roads and asked for a landscaping plan. The current landscaping plan looks like reverse frontage. Newton said the billboard on the property has been removed.

The planning commission approved the lot line adjustment plan and the preliminary plan. They denied the waiver to combine the primary and final plan since not all the stormwater plans are submitted.

Assistant Planning Director Nathan Jones talked about a possible house bill that would limit some of what the township is trying to do when it comes to cellphone carriers such as regulating height and design guidelines.

Vice Chair Maury Robert felt there should be a distinction between masts, towers, poles, tripods and other structures. The intent of the planning commission would be to keep the towers in the right of way. Robert felt the term support structure should be replaced with antenna support structure.

Robert questioned if radio equipment would be required to be 12 or 14 feet. He also wanted to know the difference between 5G towers and 4G cells. There was talk about limiting which collector status roads could have 5G towers.

The next Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting will be Aug. 13. Usually the planning commission meets the second Tuesday of every month and occasionally there is a workshop meeting on the third Tuesday of the month. Meetings take place 7 p.m. and are in the township municipal building.