The May 13 meeting of the Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission included three projects; PA Act 537, Schenkel Subdivision and Iron Run Estates Land Development.

There was a fourth project, 617 N. Krocks Road Mixed Use, which was tabled until the next meeting.

The PA Act 537 Plan involves maintenance and improvement of the township’s sewer lines. The project was represented by Joseph Nolan of CKS Engineering and Liesel Gross, the chief executive officer of Lehigh County Authority.

The goal of the plan would be to decrease excessive flows. Nolan explained the plan is required by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection due to excessive flows in 2018 and 2019.

This led to bypasses at the wastewater treatment plant and violations of Lehigh County Authority’s annual reporting.

Nolan said Lower Macungie Township has been aggressive at maintaining and repairing its sanitary sewer lines.

Gross talked about reducing infiltration and leakage to limit groundwater entering the sewage pipes. Nolan also talked about replacing clay pipes with cured in place pipe lining.

The second project discussed was the Schenkel Subdivision resubmission. The property is located at 7624 Mountain Road in the township’s rural zoning district. The project involved subdividing two parcels of land.

The first parcel would be subdivided into two lots, one residential and one nonbuilding lot. The second parcel would be divided into three lots, two residential and one nonbuilding lots. The first parcel includes a conservation easement of 17.24 acres.

The planning commission talked about conserving 93 acres on the property. Herbert Schenkel was present at the meeting, along with Bud Newton of Newton Engineering.

On the south side of Mountain Road, there would be a 10-acre parcel to include Schenkel’s family home. The other 77 acres on that side of the road would become a preservation easement.

On the north side of Mountain Road, Schenkel wants to provide two lots for his children. The lots will not be more than two acres each and in accordance with Pennsylvania Act 319, the two lots will not be taken out within the same year.

Newton said Schenkel does not want to put a driveway permit on the large 77-acre property and is willing to work with the township regarding a future trail on the property.

Schenkel will continue to own the property and the land will be preserved from development. After his death, the property will be donated from his estate to an organization such as The Wildlands Conservancy.

A motion was made to recommend approval of the project to the board of commissioners and passed.

The final project discussed was Iron Run Estates at 7360 Church Lane. The property would be subdivided into 54 single family lots.

The plan also calls for the extension of Jason Drive from an existing development to connect to the development’s roads. There are also four future lots on the property with frontage on Church Lane.

The Iron Run Estates project was represented by Attorney Sean Duffy of Obermayer and Jeff Strauss of D.R. Horton.

There are three stormwater lots on the property which would include four stormwater basins. Three of the basins will be infiltration basins and not be lined; the other will be a detention basin.

There was a crosswalk proposed across Church Lane. The roads in the development will be offered for dedication to the public. There is no plan for any improvements to the single lane bridge slightly down the road on Church Lane.

There was a discussion about the traffic impact study for the project. Township Commissioner Maury Robert questioned if there was any form of staging for the property.

Strauss said there will be a through road on the property right away. There was a conversation about adding a walking trail to Church Lane Park.

The next Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting will be June 10. 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. There will be no workshop in May.

Meetings begin 6 p.m. and currently all planning commission meetings will be held both in person and over Zoom with a video recording uploaded to the Township’s YouTube channel after the fact.