ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A Lehigh Valley Planning Commission member on Tuesday labeled a land developer’s request in Lowhill Township as “almost defying common sense.”
Another viewed it as being “inconsistent” with FutureLV, the comprehensive plan for the Lehigh Valley.
An engineering consultant for Lowhill Township described it as “an attack on the environmental breadbasket of the entire Lehigh Valley.”
The controversial project was among several topics discussed during a joint meeting of the LVPC’s Environment and Comprehensive Planning committees.
At issue is CRG Associates’ request that the state Department of Environmental Protection direct Lowhill Township to revise its official sewage facilities plan to clear the way for construction of a 300,000-square-foot warehouse at 2951 Betz Court.
“I think this idea of forcing urban infrastructure here is an ill-concerned idea."Christopher Amato, chair, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
The committees’ opposition to CRG’s sewage plan revision request centers around the presumed impact such a revision would have on high-priority natural resources, wildlife, multiple wetlands and woodlands and roadways in the area.
The location, at Route 100 and Kernsville Road, is surrounded by residential units, commercial businesses and a child day care center.
“Based on an assessment of the proposal and its potential impacts, the LVPC believes that expanding public utility infrastructure in this context would be detrimental to the township and region,” the review letter said.
'An ill-conceived idea'
Commission Chairman Christopher Amato said, “We have among the highest sewage bills in the state. We don’t need municipal services in the county where they don’t belong.
“I think this idea of forcing urban infrastructure here is an ill-concerned idea.”
“We have those plans for a reason.”Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Environmental Committee Chairman Steve Repasch
Environmental Committee Chairman Steve Repasch added: “When I think of the time and effort and resources we put into creating Future LV and the staff, effort and time into the Northern Lehigh Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan — we have those plans for a reason.”
Lowhill Supervisors Chairman Curtis Dietrich told the commission the township will file paperwork with the DEP to explain that CRG’s request does not meet the criteria for the township to meet that request.
LVPC Executive Director Becky A. Bradley suggested to the committee that the LVPC would like to be included in any hearings the DEP may conduct on the request.
The issue is expected to be on the agenda at the full LVPC meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Evergreen Farms project
The commission voiced several concerns with an apartment development project at Nazareth Pike (Route 191) and Newburg Road in Lower Nazareth Township.
The Apartments at Evergreen Farms plan would construct six garden, or first-floor, apartment buildings, totaling 144 apartments, and a 2,800-square-foot community center.
The project site lacks needed public utility infrastructure to accommodate the scale of the proposal, the commission determined.
Although the region has a substantial housing need, development cannot occur at the expense of the public health, safety, welfare and general interest, the commission said.
Should the project move forward, the LVPC strongly recommended a reduction of the size of the development to buildings with roadway frontage to better align with the context of the area and what the infrastructure can handle.
Other projects
The committee advanced the review of an application to expand the parking lot at Parkland High School.
Proposed is an expansion of the northern parking lot from 28 to 71 spaces and to improve paving at the southern maintenance building at 2619 Stadium Drive, South Whitehall Township.
Also, the environment committee approved review of an application by Delaware River Basin Commission to renew approval of its existing wastewater treatment plant and discharge.
The purpose of the application is to renew the approval of the applicant’s existing 300,000-gallons-per-day discharge.
The average monthly flow to the plant is 155,220 gallons per day, the review noted.
The plant serves the Danielsville residential and commercial community and is at Municipal Road in Lehigh Township.
No expansion or modification of the treatment plant is proposed with this application.
A final draft of a comprehensive plan to bring together eight communities in the Slate Belt was reviewed.
The Slate Belt Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan would join the boroughs of Bangor, East Bangor, Pen Argyl, Portland, Roseto, Wind Gap and Upper Mount Bethel and Washington townships.
The LVPC also introduced Humaira Nabeela as chief transportation planner and Samantha Pearson as director of development.
