LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — It's a time of growth for Lower Macungie Township, and managing that expansion is a focus of the three candidates for two seats on the township board of commissioners.
- Three candidates are vying for two spots on Lower Macungie Township's Board of Commissioners
- Incumbents Maury G. Robert and Ron R. Beitler are joined on the ballot by challenger Gregory S. Chaputa
- All candidates noted land preservation and managing development as a priority
With the population growth that has come to the Lehigh Valley — including the western end of Lehigh County that includes Lower Macungie — proposals keep coming for large developments, such as the massive Lehigh Valley Town Center.
Many residents and commissioners have spoken of needing to manage the growth and preserve farmland in the township.
The three Lower Macungie supervisors candidates all are Republicans: incumbents Maury G. Robert and Ron R. Beitler, joined by challenger Gregory S. Chaputa.
The two who get the most votes during the May 16 primary will appear on the November ballot for four-year terms.
There are no Democratic candidates on the ballot.
Ronald R. Beitler
Beitler is a 45-year resident of the village of East Texas and a retired electric lineman (not to be confused with his son, Ronald W. Beitler, who is on the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners and the township's Zoning Hearing Board).
Beitler said his priority is to continue the township's program to preserve historic farmland and open space by updating the official map with a further round of priorities.
He said the original map drafted in 2016 and original top priorities have been accomplished, with nearly 500 acres included so far in preservation efforts.
The strategy has been working and we need to continue it while maintaining balanced growth. This means continuing to preserve open space when and where we can and where we can't, hold developers accountable and to high standards.Lower Macungie supervisors candidate Ronald R. Beitler
"The strategy has been working and we need to continue it while maintaining balanced growth," Beitler said.
"This means continuing to preserve open space when and where we can and where we can't, hold developers accountable and to high standards."
He said keeping taxes and fees sustainable and low has been something of which he feels proud in his role as commissioner so far.
He also noted investments in parks and facilities and the permanent preservation of the 190-acre Weiner Farm, 150-acre Lichtenwalner Farm and most recently the 110-acre Dorney tract on Lower Macungie Road.
Beitler said the proposed Town Center housing, retail and entertainment project not only is appropriately situated near a highway interchange but also points to the strict guidelines set for what he said is an exciting new development.
Gregory S. Chaputa
Gregory S. Chaputa, an engineering manager and biomedical engineer at Roche Diagnostics, is a newcomer to Lower Macungie politics.
Chaputa said he's looking to give back to where lives and he grew up.
"I felt that this time in my life, I would like to do something different and get back to the community," Chaputa said.
One of the things that I'm passionate about is preserving the land here and preserving the open space, providing some oversight on some of the development that goes on and Lower Macungie.Lower Macungie Township supervisors candidate Gregory S. Chaputa
"One of the things that I'm passionate about is preserving the land here and preserving the open space, providing some oversight on some of the development that goes on and Lower Macungie."
Chaputa, a Parkland High School graduate, said he moved back to Lower Macungie in 2004 after working in northern New Jersey and New York.
He said that in his work, he manages various stakeholders in the organization such as marketing, sales operations and more, which would allow him the experience to analyze the impacts of new projects on the community.
He said it's important to align projects and keep a dialogue with the other municipalities nearby and to build those relationships.
Chaputa said he is "a firm believer in" supporting local businesses and of buying local, making sure businesses in the township succeed because it's "important to everyone."
He also said he wishes to be a voice to the public of the community to communicate and advocate for what the township is doing for the public.
Maury G. Robert
Incumbent Maury G. Robert, is a 33-year veteran of the township Planning Commission, a first-term commissioner and a former East Penn School Board member.
Robert, a Vietnam navy veteran, came to the Lehigh Valley in 1964 to attend Lehigh University, after which he worked in the IT department at Air Products for 35 years.
Now retired, he said he hopes to maintain what the township has by supporting township amenities and continue acquiring open space to curb unwanted development.
"We have lots of parks, trails, greenways, buildings — things that people expect to be available," Robert said. "We need to continue to support those endeavors in a fiscally responsible fashion."
"We need to do everything that we can to minimize the impact of these big projects on our road infrastructure. Then also stormwater and lots of other types of infrastructure. Roads just are the ones that people can identify with the most."Lower Macungie Township supervisors candidate Maury G. Robert
He noted the recent efforts by the township to construct new pickleball and tennis courts and considerations of whether to renovate or reconstruct the township building with a focus on fiscal limitations.
Robert said supporting existing infrastructure will be a big focus if he's re-elected, given the impact big development projects such as the Town Center and the North Krocks Road development will have.
That includes efforts by the township to bring in new traffic lights and install pedestrian crossings to connect trail networks.
"We need to do everything that we can to minimize the impact of these big projects on our road infrastructure," Robert said. "Then also stormwater and lots of other types of infrastructure. Roads just are the ones that people can identify with the most."
He said a lot of times on the board he has been able to apply his time on the township Planning Commission to make constructive comments on projects that come before the board.
