SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley's plans for an addition to its administrative offices were approved by the township planning commission Thursday.
The project will be reviewed by the board of commissioners at a meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18.
The plan proposes adding 1,200 square feet at 4501 Crackersport Road for a multi-purpose room to be used for operational functions and special events/activities specific to the organization.
"The foundation is marking 20 years this year of family-focused programs for children who are going through all stages of battling the disease."Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley
A smaller part of the proposed expansion would be used as storage space for program supplies and more on the 0.83-acre parcel.
The property is served by public water and sewer and is zoned HC-Highway Commercial.
The township is recommending approval subject to the developer agreeing to 19 conditions — including water and sewer allocation, conservation issues, frontage improvements, cleanup plans and more.
The property is on a dead-end street.
Representatives of the cancer foundation on Thursday said the plans do not include additional parking space or construction of additional office space.
The foundation is marking 20 years this year of family-focused programs for children who are going through all stages of battling the disease.
The facility provides services including house cleaning, gas and grocery gift cards, E-ZPass gift certificates, hospital cafeteria cards and more to help support its families.
Development plan reviewed
Also Thursday, the planning commission conducted a sketch plan review of a proposed single-family, home development project on Orefield Road.
As for residents who packed the meeting at the municipal building, there was nothing sketchy whatsoever about their feelings on the project — they’d prefer not to have it approved.
Their concerns included stormwater management, woodlands and habitat preservation, increased traffic and lot size.
“If all of us would rather not have this development in our backyard, why don’t our feelings matter above anyone else’s?”A resident at South Whitehall Township Planning Commission meeting
As one resident who requested anonymity said after the meeting, “If all of us would rather not have this development in our backyard, why don’t our feelings matter above anyone else’s?”
The applicant, Tuskes Homes, proposes to subdivide the 27.9603-acre parcel into fee-simple building lots for 15 two-acre, single-family detached dwellings at 3900 Orefield Road.
In real estate, fee simple describes a landowner's complete and total ownership of a piece of land and all properties on it.
The fee simple owner may do anything they wish on the land as long as it falls within established easements and zoning laws.
Each home would be about 4,000 square feet and have a two- or three-car garage.
One of the lots, an open space non-building lot, measures 10.2 acres. It woud serve as a passive recreational area maintained by the homeowners’ association, according to Kevin Horvath, of Keystone Consulting Engineers.
'Eventually going to be developed'
All lots are proposed to be served by public water and private septic. The property is zoned RR-2 Rural Residential.
The lot owners are Joseph and Haley Zimring. The applicant is Tuskes Homes, which is negotiating with the owners to buy the parcel.
Scott Savett of Carroll Lane told the commissioners his property experiences water pooling. He worried the development project would exacerbate the problem, as it abuts two of the lots to be developed.
“It’s important to understand that this was not going to be 28 acres of trees forever. It was eventually going to be developed.”South Whitehall Planning Commissioner Mark J. Leuthe
Horvath told Savett the state Department of Environmental Protection has regulations about controlling stormwater management and habitat. He said the project plan meets or exceeds all DEP regulations regarding both concerns.
As for concerns about preserving woodlands, Horvath assured residents the project would be completed with the removal of a minimum of trees.
“It’s important to understand that this was not going to be 28 acres of trees forever," Planning Commission member Mark J. Leuthe told those in attendance.
"It was eventually going to be developed.”
Penns Crossing item
The planning commission also granted final conditional approval to relocate the stormwater management facilities at 1881 Penns Crossing & The Hills at Winchester.
The applicants, Matthew and Asli Puchyr, proposed to relocate a stormwater sewer pipe to the north lot of the 1.96-acre parcel, and were requesting four waivers for the stormwater management design.
The property is served by public water and sewer and is zoned Low Density Residential R-2.
Matthew and Asli Puchyr are the owners of both properties.
The township board of commissioners had previously approved the minor subdivision request.
