WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Assess it or bulldoze it.
That’s how Whitehall Township Commissioner Ken Snyder framed what should be done with the municipality's former police station during a workshop session of the board Monday.
The structure at 3731 Lehigh St. has been vacant for three years.
“The wheel never seems to be rolling along enough to get it done,” Snyder said. “We need to get it off our books.”
Township Mayor Joseph Marx said the Whitehall has an “interested party” to purchase the property but didn’t disclose its identity.
“I know I’m going to get in trouble saying this, but Whitehall Township has a hoarding problem. We need to get rid of this.”Whitehall Township Mayor Joseph Marx
The township had been unsuccessful in obtaining an acceptable bid for the sale of the property this year.
The administration has had the property appraised again to get a more accurate value.
Deputy Mayor John Meyers said the township’s public works department is “getting numbers” on the repair costs of HVAC and electrical.
“This has been dragging on far too long and it’s cost us in liability insurance and utilities,” Commissioner Robert Piligian said.
“I think we as commissioners have a fiduciary commitment to taxpayers, that we have to move this thing along.”
The building lost its nonconforming rights when the township bought the property.
A nonconforming use is a land use or structure that was legal prior to the adoption of a zoning ordinance that renders the use or structure illegal.
“I know I’m going to get in trouble saying this, but Whitehall Township has a hoarding problem,” Marx said. “We need to get rid of this.”
Auto spa project stalled
In other business Monday, commissioners were told unresolved zoning issues by developers have stalled the determination of the Hometown Auto Spa project on Seventh Street.
The proposal calls for two automatic car wash bays and an unattached structure to the bays at 3318 Seventh St.
“There are sufficient reasons to not approve this plan.”Whitehall Township engineer Frank Clark
The project, presented by Keystone Consulting Engineers of Allentown, also lists plans for a mechanical room and a driveway loop not to exceed 10,000 square feet.
The board last month directed that prior directional signs and markings, such as arrows and parking spaces, must be refreshed, because the proposed car wash bays are strictly traveling one way.
“There are sufficient reasons to not approve this plan,” township engineer Frank Clark said.
Should the project be denied by the commissioners, the developer would have the option to reapply later.
Townhomes Project continued
Also Monday, a developer’s proposal to construct 10 townhomes along North Front Street continued.
The major subdivision/land development plan calls for Whitehall Townhomes to construct the townhomes on an 11-lot parcel at 3229 N. Front St.
Last month, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission recommended preliminary/final approval of the project subject to the developer making separate arrangements with Coplay Whitehall Sewer Authority and the Northampton Water Authority for water and sanitary distribution services.
The developer initially proposed on-lot wells, while the commission preferred a public water connection.
The commission previously mandated installation of sidewalk curbing in the development.
