A new plan for pedestrian and traffic control was presented by officials representing Vistas at South Mountain at the July 24 Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners’ township meeting.

The plan calls for:

- A median strip to be installed in the center of East Emmaus Avenue in the vicinity of Gaskill Avenue and the proposed entrance to Vistas at South Mountain.

- Eliminated would be an overhead gate system across East Emmaus Avenue.

- Eliminated would be a pedestrian crosswalk at East Emmaus Avenue and Gaskill Avenue.

- Eliminated would be sidewalks along East Emmaus Avenue in the vicinity of Gaskill Avenue.

- Added would be a concrete pad for school bus pick up and drop off of students along the south side of East Emmaus Avenue with a sidewalk connecting to the proposed entrance to Vistas at South Mountain.

Also, based on a drawing presented on the video screens at the meeting, it appears that:

- Allowed would be right-turns only for vehicles exiting the proposed entrance to Vistas at South Mountain to travel east on East Emmaus Avenue.

- No left turns would be allowed for vehicles exiting the proposed entrance to Vistas at South Mountain to travel west on East Emmaus Avenue.

- Allowed would be right-turns only for vehicles exiting Gaskill Avenue to travel west on East Emmaus Avenue.

- No left turns would be allowed for vehicles exiting Gaskill Avenue to travel east on East Emmaus Avenue.

Robert L. Hoffman, regional manager, Traffic Planning and Design, Inc., Bethlehem, presented the new traffic plan for Vistas at South Mountain, LLC, to township commissioners and the public at the July 24 meeting in the municipal building.

“Some potential improvements [would include] specifically eliminating left turns,” Hoffman said, adding, “A concrete median to physically prohibit motorists to make left turns onto Gaskill and into the proposed driveway at Vistas.”

Hoffman cited a concrete landing proposed for the south side of East Emmaus Avenue, adding, “That sidewalk is there for the school district to pick up children.”

Hoffman said a sidewalk across East Emmaus Avenue would not be required.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation [PennDOT] is reviewing the new plan. “They were open to the idea,” Hoffman said.

“It is a concrete median. It does not move. A fire truck can drive over it. They have enough clearance,” Hoffman said.

“Do we need a traffic study?” Commissioner Alex Karol asked.

“No,” Hoffman said, adding, ”We don’t have to go through a traffic study.”

The goal is to for the new plan to be presented as part of a vote by township commissioners to approve or deny the Vistas at South Mountain development at the next township meeting, 7 p.m. Aug. 14, in the meeting room of the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

“That’s obviously our goal,” Attorney Michael E. Peters, shareholder, Eastburn and Gray, PC, Attorneys at Law, Doylestown office, representing the developer Tuskes Homes, operating as Vistas at South Mountain Holdings, LLC, said at the July 24 commissioners’ meeting.

Township commissioners voted 5-0 at the July 24 meeting to approve a motion for a time extension request from Vistas at South Mountain, LLC, to Aug. 15. Commissioner Alex Karol made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Heather Lipkin to bring the motion to a vote.

“This is very good since we can’t get a light,” board of commissioners President Debra J. Brinton said of the new traffic plan for Vistas, adding, “It will help to mitigate traffic and slow it down.”

“We’ll have traffic flow. It will actually flow the correct way,” Salisbury Chief of Police Donald Sabo said of the new plan, adding, “With no pedestrian crossing, we can actually apply for a grant to be shared with the school district.”

It was noted a 50-foot wetlands buffer easement would be sought for the property.

Township commissioners voted 5-0 at the July 10 meeting to table a resolution to approve the conditional preliminary-final plan with 10 waivers and two deferrals for Vistas at South Mountain.

Tuskes Homes is proposing to build 88 rental town houses and one single home at 1030 E. Emmaus Ave., 1108 E. Emmaus Ave. and 1210 E. Emmaus Ave.

It was the second time commissioners voted to table the project proposed for the former Salisbury Township School District property on the township’s east side.

The township planning commission voted 3-2 with two members absent at the April 23 meeting to recommend approval of the project to commissioners.

Township commissioners voted 4-0 with one commissioner absent at the June 26 meeting to table a resolution to approve Vistas at South Mountain.

Township commissioners voted 4-0 with one commissioner absent at the March 27 meeting to accept a time extension to July 31 for the Vistas at South Mountain Preliminary-Final Land Development Plan.

Traffic volume and flow at the proposed development and the safety of school students traveling to and from nearby Salisbury Elementary School, 1400 Gaskill Ave., have been a concern of the township planning commission, township commissioners, township police department and township residents.

The elementary school is said to have 452 students enrolled.

Residents have expressed concerns about potential stormwater runoff problems into Trout Creek.

PennDOT has jurisdiction of Emmaus Avenue, which is a state-maintained highway.

PennDOT officials turned down a request from township officials for a traffic light at East Emmaus Avenue and Gaskill Avenue. Representatives of Tuskes Homes said the firm would pay for the traffic light.

Previously proposed for the East Emmaus Avenue and Gaskill Avenue intersection was a mast-arm-mounted flashing warning device and a pole-mounted flashing warning device, which would be an automatic activated system with the mast arm out over the road.

There is a stop sign on Gaskill Avenue at East Emmaus Avenue. There is a stop sign on Honeysuckle Road at East Emmaus Avenue.

The property, in the R3, Medium Low Density Residential and the CR, Conservation-Residential zoning district, is vacant land. All dwelling units will be within the R3 zoning district boundaries.

Township approval of the project would be conditional on Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection approval.

Salisbury Township School District sold the property Oct. 25, 2023, for $1.45 million to Tuskes Homes.

The property was taken by eminent domain by Salisbury Township School District in 1967 as a site for a senior high school.

Salisbury Township officials considered purchasing the property in 2008 to connect it to Franko Farm Park.

A project for 70 to 90 homes for those age 55-plus for the property fell through in 2005.