By SARIT LASCHINSKY

Special to The Press

South Whitehall Township commissioners heard several land development requests at the start of their Feb. 17 virtual meeting, beginning with a proposal for a new mosque near the township building.

Board members heard a request for a resolution granting preliminary final approval for a new 26,150-square-foot, three-story mosque, in addition to stormwater management improvements and 13 fewer parking spaces, at 1500 Ridgeview Drive.

The plan, submitted by owner and applicant Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat of Pennsylvania, also proposes the razing of the existing 16,088-square-foot, two-story Al-Ahad Islamic Center now on the property.

In response to a question from Commissioner Diane Kelly, who voiced residents’ concerns about the reduced number of parking spaces and vehicles parking on the grass during events, engineer Tony Tallarida explained there had been a surplus of spaces, and events exceed “normal” levels.

He also said additional sidewalks were being added to the mosque which, when combined with the reduction in parking spaces, allowed the project’s impervious coverage to remain the same.

Community Development Director Dave Manhardt said the plan conforms with South Whitehall’s parking standards.

Board members voted to grant preliminary/final approval to the mosque project.

Additionally, another preliminary/final approval request was approved for proposed parking lot improvements including the elimination of 13 spaces, construction of a driveway aisle, installation of a new water line and stormwater management improvements at 798 Hausman Road.

Manhardt said Lehigh Valley Health Network was the property owner and applicant.

Furthermore, a request was heard from Posocco Equities to include an additional SALDO requirement waiver for the preliminary/final approval resolution for the 1960 Harold Avenue major plan.

Manhardt said the plan included a number of lot consolidations and subdivisions to put in a five-unit block of town houses.

He said the request was to waive SALDO requirements dealing with soil erosion and sedimentation control plans, which are reviewed by the Lehigh County Conservation District.

He noted township staff had concerns that should the section be waived, there would be no capability to enforce the proposed erosion and sedimentation plan, and any issues with erosion and sedimentation control would be readily felt within the established neighborhood.

Tallarida added the township had entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Conservation District that the township would submit any project, regardless of size, to the LCCD for approval.

He said in this instance, the applicant was asking for a waiver not to go to the Conservation District, but maintained the township’s engineers agreed the regular process should be followed.

After discussions with the applicant David Posocco about whether the plan had been submitted to the LCCD and the requirements for submission, board members voted to table the matter to provide the applicant with time to assemble the necessary information.

In other business, the board approved a motion granting a request from Upper Macungie Township to install an advance warning sign, per PennDOT specifications, in South Whitehall’s right of way along Crackersport Road to alert westbound truck drivers.

Township Manager Renee Bickel said Upper Macungie, which recently completed a culvert weight study on the road and imposed a 25-ton limit, would provide and maintain the sign.

She added the sign would be posted near Eck Road in the event a truck needs space to turn around.

Commissioners also approved a request to proceed with the purchase of replacement park amenities for Covered Bridge Park from The Park Catalog for $52,462.32.

Parks and Recreation Manager Mike Kukitz said the park had been heavily damaged during Tropical Storm Isaias last year, which washed away or damaged beyond repair many items including 40 picnic tables, three grills, six player benches and 20 trash cans.

Township Operations Director Randy Cope said the township received $83,000 in insurance money for three different locations damaged by the storm.

He said the purchases would be covered by the $59,039 allocated for Covered Bridge Park.

Under information items, board President Christina “Tori” Morgan noted there are still two open alternate positions on the township’s civil service commission, two vacancies on the shade tree commission and one on the planning commission.

Bickel reported the campus renovation project was nearing completion, certificates of occupancy were being received and the finishing touches were being done.

She said the public meeting room would be the final portion completed, and estimated the project would be wrapped up later in March.

Bickel and Manhardt said the township’s new website would be going live the next day, though Manhardt cautioned the site was still a work in progress.

He provided a quick overview of the new website, saying the layout was similar to the old South Whitehall page and the new “Services” and “I Want To” pages were being fine-tuned.

Additionally, the board received an update from Jessica O’Donnell and Ashley Lorah from the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce regarding the township’s small business relief grant program.

O’Donnell said the chamber spoke to numerous businesses to inform them about the grant opportunity and 15 completed applications had been received, with numerous more in progress.

“People are applying right away, so it tells me the need is still there, and any little bit will help them,” she said.

Lorah added the grant program was being promoted through social media, cold calls, emails and other messaging.

In the Parks and Rec report, Cope said the first public meeting for the Kohler Ridge Park master plan project was scheduled for 6 p.m. April 22.

He said throughout the development project there would be “ample opportunities” for public feedback and comments to shape the park’s final appearance.

He also noted that the fourth annual Youth Fishing Derby at Covered Bridge Park will take place April 17, and the township anticipated a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the park’s new playground in May.