The July 8 meeting of the Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission involved three projects; Sprouts Market and Commercial Development, N.P. Land Holdings and Red Maple Acres Mobile Home Park.

The first project discussed was Sprouts Market and Commercial Development, located along Route 100 near the Sauerkraut Lane extension. The property would also include an additional retail building connected to the existing St. Luke’s medical office building and a drive-thru bank.

The property has a generous landscaping plan. There was a discussion about the importance of walkability on the property.

The project was represented at the meeting by Engineer Brent Tucker of the Pidcock Company.

The project relies on the completion of the Sauerkraut Lane extension. There was a discussion about the project’s traffic study.

There was a discussion about sidewalks and frontage improvements such as fences and trees. The idea of an outdoor seating area was suggested. There was also a discussion regarding having another sign on the south side of the property.

The planning commissioners asked about the lighting plan for the parking lot. Tucker confirmed the lights in the parking lot would be dark sky compliant.

Township resident Mike Siegel voiced traffic concerns with the project. Siegel said Sprouts is going to be a destination area, not just a supermarket for the local community.

Siegel also wanted the planning commission to make sure there is plenty of handicap parking due to several senior communities in the area.

The second project discussed was N.P. Land Holdings, 7428 Industrial Park Way.

The use for the property is light manufacturing and the property will have a limited number of dock doors and employee parking places.

There was talk about buffering the structure and the dock bays to avoid noise pollution. The building would have a stone accent around its base. The stormwater basins on the property will be naturalized.

The project was represented by Attorney Catherine Durso, of Fitzpatrick Lentz and Bubba and Alan Fornwalt, of Keystone Consulting Engineers. Fornwalt said there will be amenities for truck drivers on site.

There was a discussion about the stormwater system on the property. There was also a conversation about the project’s traffic study. Fornwalt said there were 30 trips during the morning peak hour and 40 during the afternoon peak hour. He said two of those trips will be trucks.

There was a discussion about the building elevation. The property has a significant slope.

The third project discussed was Red Maple Acres Mobile Home Park, 1170 Grange Road. The property was represented by Attorney Frank D’Amore from Fitzpatrick Lentz and Bubba and Lou Rock from Lehigh Engineering Associates along with the applicant.

The project involves adding 36 units in the rear of the property. There was a discussion about the walkability of the property.

Planning commissioners had a concern about how close some of the units would be to the stormwater basin. There was a discussion about the importance of connectivity to Hamilton Boulevard.

Another topic discussed was the widening of the roads in the trailer park to allow emergency vehicle access.

Planning commissioners said the property has broad sweeping curves beneficial for larger vehicles. They also said the plan will be reviewed by the fire marshal.

There was also a discussion about adding a path along Grange Road. There is a swale in the rear of the property to capture stormwater before it leaves the site.

The next Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting will be Aug. 12.

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 July.

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