The April 14 meeting of the Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission involved the Brookside Road Apartments.

The Brookside Road Apartments are located at 721 North Brookside Road. The project consists of a six unit apartment structure and 10 parking spaces, as well as garbage collection.

The lot is a half-acre in size and the apartment building is expected to be 32,000 square feet. There is a 20-foot side yard setback on the property as well as a 15-foot setback bordering Brookside Road.

Township Planner Nathan Jones said a design companion would be required for the plan’s Conditional Use application.

The project was represented by Jason Schweyer of Keystone Consulting Engineers.

The property would have an underground retention basin for stormwater on the property. The plan is to use public water and sanitary sewer.

Township Engineer Bryan McAdam said the ultimate right of way line would have to move into the site another 10 feet. He also said the road might need to be widened.

McAdam had concerns about parking and circulation on the property. He said the number of parking spaces would need to be increased to 11 to be complaint with current ordinances and recommended adding a 12th space.

McAdam wondered if there would be an issue with impervious coverage once the right of way is pushed back and the easements are subtracted out.

In addition, McAdam was not sure if the driveway is acceptable to the fire marshal. He suggested the possibility of widening the driveway and asked about the curb radius.

Planning commissioners questioned if there were any common areas on the property. It was questioned if there would be any stormwater infiltration on the property.

Commissioner Jennifer Mack expressed an interest in having outdoor common space on the property. The apartment complex would be a two-story building.

The next Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission meeting is scheduled May 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 was no workshop in April.

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