LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — Lower Macungie Township commissioners on Thursday approved land development plans for Western Lehigh Services new site.
Developer’s plans for a new hub for the landscaping and snow services business at 1500 Trexlertown Road saw a few minor changes during a June 2025 meeting.
They included moving the main building to a point where there will be less upfront parking, shifting some structures closer to the road, and adding buffering and an easement for future sewer service.
"When this opportunity presented itself, we thought that this would be a very good location for us to still be close to most of our work."Western Lehigh Services Vice President Jake Longenbach
The township board Thursday approved preliminary and final land development plans unanimously, with little discussion.
Township Planner Nathan Jones addressed the site setup, detailing some of the adjustments commissioners saw last month.
“As you can see, the project here on Trexlertown Road consists of the showroom and offices for the Western Lehigh Services business," Jones said.
"As well as a garage, which is a little bit further to the left there, a salt shed and some accessory buildings at the rear of the site.
“The edge of the structure and the edge of the site is bound by a rock wall. There is additional parking, and then there's also transference for storm water to go toward the creek.
"And you can see that there is additional landscaping buffering that is done there near the outfall street."
Other waivers granted
Jones also said trees have been included up and down Trexlertown Road, as well as in the front of the large cross structure, shielding it from view from passersby.
There's also a very large buffer separating the project from an adjacent community.
Nathan stated the project had been reviewed and recommended by the planning commission previously, and had been found to be in conformity with the adjudication from a prior conditional use approval.
The project’s developers were approved for several waivers, including the requirement to submit separate preliminary and final plans.
Also, specifications for a 50-foot half width ultimate right of way and a minimum cartway half width of 19 feet to allow a 50-foot half width ultimate right of way and a minimum cartway half width of 17 feet.
Also, a deferral for installing curbing on both sides of all streets until that state Transportation Department permits such curbing on Trexlertown Road.
Traffic impact fee
Residents previously expressed concerns about truck traffic, along with noise and water pollution that could come with the new facility.
Developers also will be required to pay the township a Traffic Impact Fee amounting to $118,064, based on 47 evening peak hour trips at $2,512 per trip.
In 2023, Western Lehigh Services Vice President Jake Longenbach said the company was growing at a good rate at its existing facility at 7127 Ruppsville Road in Allentown.
"When this opportunity presented itself, we thought that this would be a very good location for us to still be close to most of our work,” Longenbach said.