Longevity Coatings, a long-term employer in East Allen Township, and its owner, Mark Purington, came to the Aug. 14 East Allen Township Board of Supervisors workshop meeting asking for relief on expansion plans.

The company is growing, thanks to the techniques pioneered by Purington. The request for expansion was met by more than a few roadblocks. The owner wanted relief from a requirement to provide a costly land development plan for the expansion.

One major item requires a variance for impervious coverage.

When Purington purchased the building, the state had a different definition of impervious coatings. Specifically, gravel-covered parking lots and drives were not considered impervious. Since then, the definition has changed.

With the new rules, Purington found himself out of compliance with the latest impervious coverage rules.

The 40-percent coverage rule is still the driver, but gravel- coated roads are part of the impervious calculation. With the proposed addition, the new configuration would cover 46 percent of the land parcel.

At a prior meeting, Purington, through his attorney, vowed to take steps to reduce the number. He got it down to 42 percent.

The other issue is the location of the septic system. New rules require a property owner to have an alternate location for a septic system in case the existing one fails.

There are limited options for an alternate site on the property. Adding to the complexity, no one knows where the existing system is or the extent of the cleaning or leaching fields.

After some discussion, Purington will go before the zoning hearing board to get variances on the existing violation areas.

Assuming the variances are granted, he will not need to file a land development plan.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources wants the township to allocate some space at Bicentennial Park to allow for pollinator gardens. The garden will promote a habitat for healthy bees in the area.

Supervisors reviewed the draft agreement for the River Central Comprehensive Plan. The plan allows for regional planning between East Allen Township, Catasauqua and North Catasauqua boroughs and Hanover Township, Lehigh County.

Regional planning allows more local control over land use in a municipality, as opposed to using the Municipal Planning Code. The planning module is designed to better control truck traffic.

Supervisors are also moving forward with a defined benefit plan for municipal employee retirement.

Supervisors appointed Gordon Johnson to the zoning hearing board for a term expiring December 2021.