The April 20 meeting of the Lower Macungie Planning Commission involved two development projects.

The development projects included the Mack Trucks driveway entrance and Spring Creek Properties settlement subdivision.

George Hartman, the civil engineer for the Mack Trucks project, said he would shift the driveway 300 feet south on Orchard Road.

Planning commission Secretary Tim Pickel asked if Orchard Road will remain a two-way road even when Mack Trucks leaves the property.

Hartman said employees should not be using both lanes when leaving the property. The motion for approval was passed 6-0 with Pickel abstaining.

The other project discussed during the meeting was the Spring Creek Properties settlement subdivision.

The property borders Mertztown Road and would include 264 townhomes and 136 single family residences.

Lower Macungie Township Engineer Bryan McAdam talked about the intersection with Locust Lane and Brookdale Road. There was talk about realigning Locust Lane so it intersects with the main road on the property.

One concern of the planning commission was the retention basin on a high groundwater table.

Commissioners asked if the sewage pump station on the property should be connected to the township sanitary sewer. The pump station on the property is designed for 400 units and could not allow for additional connections.

Joseph Zator was the attorney for the Spring Creek Properties development. Commissioner Robert Rust asked about the high water table in the stormwater basin. McAdam said the stormwater basin may have to be raised to be above the water table.

There was a question about some of the lots on the property being in the 500-year flood plain. Zator said the four houses in the 500-year flood plain would have walk out basements.

Lower Macungie Township Planning Director Nathan Jones asked if the units on the property would be basement or slab oriented. Planning Commissioner Chairman Thomas Beil asked if there is a reason to upgrade the pump station in order to service future developments.

There was a discussion about the on-site walking path. Beil asked about a crosswalk along Mertztown Lane. The commissioners decided to table the discussion. The meeting was Pickel’s last on the planning commission as he will be moving out of state before the next meeting.

The next Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting will be held May 11. Due to a large number of development applications, there will be a second planning commission meeting May 18.

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.

Workshops begin 6 p.m. while meetings begin 7 p.m.

Currently all planning commission meetings are held over Zoom with a video recording uploaded to the township’s YouTube channel later.