LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa . — A proposed housing development again was presented to Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission on Tuesday, with several changes.
The proposed development, Cherry Ridge Estates, previously met resistance in Planning Commission meetings because of concerns by community members about its proximity to a flood zone.
The development would occupy a vacant 10-acre lot on Wild Cherry Lane in Lower Macungie.
"In fairness, I know it's not designed yet, but we're not necessarily going to be thrilled if there's a precipitous drop-off, right off the sidewalk."Bryan McAdam, Lower Macungie Township Engineer
Originally, developers planned to build 20 homes, but have amended the plans to 13 single-family homes.
According to township documents, the other aspects of the plan with which planners previously took issue were lighting, dumpster access and signage.
Proposed changes
Many of the recent changes had to do with flood-related infrastructure, including a retaining wall — which the Planning Commission said could be too close to a sidewalk.
"The one concern I have, and I think this is something that maybe we would need to talk about as you move forward with the hard design — I'm not all that crazy about the retaining wall right at the edge of the cul-de-sac," Lower Macungie Township engineer Bryan McAdam said.
"In fairness, I know it's not designed yet, but we're not necessarily going to be thrilled if there's a precipitous drop-off, right off the sidewalk.
"I don't want a retaining wall literally adjacent to the sidewalk there. There needs to be some separation. There will be some sort of plus we need.
"It's still going to be built to township standards, we are still going to look at it the same way we look at it a road that would be dedicated. So we are certainly going to be concerned about public safety at the end of that cul-de-sac."Lower Macungie Township engineer Bryan McAdams
"And again, in fairness to you, it is just a sketch."
McAdam also raised concern about the road that runs through the project being "dedicated," meaning being registered as an official street in the township, with signage and address numbers.
Developers of the project said they did not plan to dedicate the road, but McAdam said it likely still would need to meet the standards of other roads, as set out by the township.
"It's still going to be built to township standards, we are still going to look at it the same way we look at it a road that would be dedicated," McAdam said.
"So we are certainly going to be concerned about public safety at the end of that cul-de-sac."
The developers agreed to work with the township on getting the road, and everything else on the property, up to code before it's built.
Developers for the proposed Cherry Ridge Estates project said a revised plan would be complete in a couple of weeks.
There is no date set for the project's estimated completion if approved.
