WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — A proposal to build 73 apartments at the Fellowship Community assisted living community got final approval from the township planning commission Wednesday.
The land development project at 3600 Mauch Chunk Road advances to a review by the township Board of Commissioners at 7 p.m. Nov. 11.
The plan calls for the construction of 73 independent apartment units over three buildings, each standing three stories and measuring just over 15,000 square feet.
The plan at the independent and assisted living senior care facility moved forward after developers received a deferral on the placement of sidewalks along Schadt, Mauch Chunk and Rural roads.
“It’s safer to not encourage pedestrian traffic along those roads."Jonathan Bolton, chair, Whitehall Township Planning Commission
Project Manager Scott Pasterski of Keystone Consulting Engineers of Allentown told the planning commission that building sidewalks and curbs would impact the draining patterns along those roadways, causing water to flow onto the sidewalks.
“It’s safer to not encourage pedestrian traffic along those roads,” planning commission Chairman Jonathan Bolton said. “We don’t need kids slipping on the sidewalks and having them running across the streets.”
The requirement for sidewalks had been a point of contention during the approval process.
Truck traffic issues
Concerns over the frequency of tractor-trailer traffic have delayed possible approval of a warehouse/distribution facility just off Range Road.
Landston Equities LLC, a Jaindl Land Co. entity, is proposing a 190,400-square-foot Fullerton Terminals distribution facility.
Planning commission members heard from project representatives, including Jaindl Co. engineer Rocco Caracciolo. He anticipates an average of 80 trucks per day would travel in and out of the facility over a seven-day period.
That total is an increase from the original proposal of 25 to 50 trucks per day.
Robin Ruhmel, planning commission vice chairwoman, said her major concern is road congestion and safety.
“My biggest concern is for the residents along Route 145,” Ruhmel said. “It’s a shopping district, but it’s also a major residential commuter route.”
The planning commission also voiced concerns over the safety aspects of several of the routes the tractor-trailers would travel.
“The turn off Lehigh Street to 7th Street will not accommodate truck traffic,” said Lee Rackus, township bureau chief of planning, zoning and development.
During the public comment part of the meeting, Whitehall resident Karen Pashefko defined building a warehouse at the site as “inappropriate.”
“As a member of the community, I can tell you people don’t want more warehouses,” Pashefko said. “This project has ballooned from a projected 40-to-50 trucks a day to 80.
“Our roads are absolutely jammed already. And we have school traffic to consider. We are the asthma capital of the world; idling [vehicles] is the problem. Idling, traffic, pollution. I think this is a very inappropriate use for this site.”
Roadblock for project
A review of a small strip mall development plan at 1055 N. 6th St. was tabled.
Joseph Rentko, of Black Forest Engineering in Coplay, told the planning commission that negotiations could not be reached with the City of Allentown regarding access to 6th Street for the Plaza on 6th Street extension project.
“We tried to negotiate a deal with Allentown,” he said. “We had hoped to bridge the gap between the township and Allentown to utilize that street to a two-way street. It’s currently a one-way road.”
Allentown was willing to give developers access to the private road provided the township would agree to close an alley there.
“But the township didn’t feel comfortable doing that,” Rentko said. “So we’re out of options to develop the property.”
The plan consisted of three commercial properties, possibly including an ice cream shop, Rentko said.
Townhomes project tabled
Discussion on the Emerson Village major subdivision/land development project was tabled until the planning commission’s next meeting on Nov. 20.
The proposed development plan at 3626 Rural Road consists of 116 units of townhomes and single-unit homes built over 35 acres, including 5 acres from the removal of trees from a wooded area.
