The Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners, at its Oct. 13 meeting, unanimously approved a plan to establish a municipal open space commission. According to the agenda, this group would provide guidance and recommendations on open space concerns in the township.

Solicitor Jack Gross said a minimum of three people would need to be appointed to this committee, but no more than seven would serve in total.

Board Vice President Jeffrey Warren said this board would provide recommendations to an advisory board for the acquisition, protection, conservation and management of open space within the township.

Commissioner Ken Snyder reported a law was passed to collect funds for open space, which is why they were adopting a board. Gross noted this ordinance was modeled after other municipalities, and communities adopted an open space committee after they had passed open space tax laws.

In other news, the board unanimously approved several ordinances for the township’s recreation department.

The first resolution is a plan to fix the lighting at numerous public facilities within the township. A previous plan was approved for upgrades at Parkview Pool, Hokendauqua, which is currently under construction.

According to Brandon Hibbler, director and bureau chief of recreation, this is a three-year plan that will see new LED lighting at basketball courts, tennis facilities, park buildings and all other exterior lighting locations. It will cost $100,000-300,000.

Another ordinance will include an increase in recreation fees. According to the agenda, the ordinance revises the subdivision and land development ordinance, which deals with a recreation fee that is paid for each unit.

This fee, which was originally $2,000, will increase to $4,200. The developers who wish to construct a new house in the township will have to pay this fee, which will go to the recreation department. Half goes to the specific district where the development is located, and the other half will go into the recreation escrow. Hibbler said the fee has been $2,000 for many years.

The board also approved the final comprehensive plan from the recreation department.

According to the agenda, this plan has been in the works for 20 months after many meetings, numerous proposals and revisions. Half of the funding from the comprehensive plan is provided through a Community Conservation Partnerships Program state grant. The plan deals with all the green space in Whitehall Township and will be in effect for 20 years.

Hibbler stated the current plan has also been in place for 20 years, adding it was time to adopt a new comprehensive plan for the next two decades. This plan will see increased programming, additional staffing, more building maintenance and pool and park upgrades.

Hibbler said the comprehensive plan will be made public on the township website, and hard copies will be available, but no timeline was given.

The board of commissioners will next meet 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at the municipal building, 3219 MacArthur Road, Whitehall.