LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — A proposal to build a nearly 59-acre mixed-use complex of housing, retail, offices and entertainment is set to go before the Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners — and the public — on Thursday.
The conditional use hearing for the Lehigh Valley Town Center project, which would be built by Jaindl Land Company, is scheduled at the commissioners meeting at 6 p.m. July 20.
- The public conditional use hearing, which would give official approval for the Lehigh Valley Town Center project, is set for Thursday at 6:00 p.m.
- The project will include over 500 apartments, along with entertainment, retail, office, restaurant and entertainment space.
- The public will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the project, which if approved, will have conditions from the township finalized.
It will provide public stakeholders a chance to provide feedback to the proposal prior to potential approval, and for the township to set final conditions on the project.
After approval, the project would move to the land development phase, with final plans set to come before the board later.
The 58.8-acre project at 361 Schantz Road and 4511 Cedarbrook Road, situated between Interstate 78 and Route 222, received a recommendation in June from the township planning commission.
That came after a lengthy back-and-forth between officials and the developers, including zoning modifications to make the project possible.
Lehigh Valley Town Center has been called a "good project for a number of reasons," such as its pedestrian-friendly design, "appropriate locations" and immediate direct access to Interstate 78 and Route 222.Smart growth group Friends for the Protection of Lower Macungie
Township officials have spoken favorably about the project and its proposed location.
South Whitehall Township's agenda for its meeting Wednesday included a motion to send a township representative to the hearing, but does not list what any message of concerns or support may be.
Smart growth group Friends for the Protection of Lower Macungie has called it a "good project for a number of reasons," such as its pedestrian-friendly design, "appropriate locations" and immediate direct access to Interstate 78 and Route 222.
Some concerns and questions have been raised related to the project's potential impact on traffic.
Conditions to be finalized
Current conditions set for the project include restricting hours of the Topgolf facility to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and midnight on Sundays through Thursdays.
A notable request from the township is that no less than 20% of the roof area of structures for the mixed-use part of the site include roof dining, terraces, bars or public and private access spaces.
Other restrictions include lighting regulations; creating a buffer to separate use from nearby cemeteries on Cedarbrook Road; requiring ornamental roof features; attractive, flowered landscaping; and compliance with established stormwater and state Transportation Department regulations.
A substation also was requested for the township's fire department and/or ambulance corps.
The current agenda packet for the hearing lists that final approval and construction must take place within three years of conditional use approval for the mixed-use part.
Design details to be reviewed
Speaking to LehighValleyNews.com in June, developers said the project would have an "urban feel, but in suburbia," both acting as an entertainment and retail destination while doubling as a livable, walkable neighborhood.
If approved, it will have about 170,000 square feet of retail space, 135,000 square feet of office space, 550 apartments, a grocer, a comedy club theater, a six-story parking garage and a 180-room hotel, according to the Jaindl company and recent documents.
It also would include a Topgolf entertainment facility, a popular entertainment center that acts as a cross between a driving range and a sports bar.
"The overall intent of this development is to create a walkable town feel, create a sense of place, a sense of community. Not just a standard shopping center — something that is unique to the area in the market, and a place that people will call a destination, place that people will call home, and a place that they can come gather and come with their family, and go to TopGolf."Luke Jaindl of the Jaindl Land Co.
"The overall intent of this development is to create a walkable town feel, create a sense of place, a sense of community," Luke Jaindl of the Jaindl Land Co. said.
"Not just a standard shopping center — something that is unique to the area in the market, and a place that people will call a destination, place that people will call home, and a place that they can come gather and come with their family, and go to Topgolf."
Aside from Topgolf, no tenants have been divulged.
Spring Creek Estates land development approval
Also scheduled Thursday is the final land development approval for the Spring Creek Estates development of eight townhomes at 6159 Stein Way and eight townhomes at 1255 Danner Road.
The township planning commission reviewed and found in compliance with the site's plans during its June 13 meeting.
The next steps for the project if the land development plan is approved would be to get building permits and proceed with construction.
