Northampton Borough Council is expected to vote Dec. 19 on the planning commission’s recommendation that the proposed 40 town house development at 21st and Main streets be approved.

The planning commission, with council members Kenneth Hall and Robert McHale on the board, listened to testimony from Northampton Residential LLC, of Whitehall, seeking approval for the development behind the CVS Pharmacy and Redner’s Quick Shoppe.

Council is expected to grant approval for the town house development, with Hall and McHale already giving their approval. However, the vote is not expected to be unanimous.

Councilman Anthony Lopsonzski Sr. gave a scathing commentary on the town house project at the Dec. 5 meeting.

“Anything would be better than town houses,” he said in a blistering fashion, his voice rising as he continued his stance opposing the development.

The site has been unused for years after Cross Country Clothes, a garment manufacturer, closed and the buildings were demolished.

“It is sacrilegious to put 40 town houses on that property,” Lopsonzski Sr. remarked.

Favoring a strip mall, he said some form of commercial development would be a much better fit for the property.

Lopsonzski Sr. was not present at the planning commission meeting, nor were any of his comments stated at the session.

Another concern raised by Lopsonzski Sr., who is a retired borough police sergeant, is that young children or teens will be crossing 21st Street, with the railroad tracks nearby. He also mentioned the issue of emergency vehicles, first responders, police and fire vehicles responding to calls.

Discussion at the planning commission was that the town house project is the same as five years ago, but the proposal had to be resubmitted since no development had taken place since 2007. Posh Development, Bethlehem Township, previously owned the parcel, but the proposed residential project never came to fruition. The plan was approved previously as Cross Country town houses in 2007.

The property is located in a C-2 commercial zoned district. The present owner of the tract and developer is Abe Atiyeh.

Stormwater runoff, parking and a host of technical matters were discussed at the planning commission meeting by members and representatives of Northampton Residential LLC.