WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — A developer got unanimous approval Monday to construct 57 townhomes and 59 single-unit homes in two phases from the Whitehall Township commissioners.
The initial proposal by W.B. Homes Inc., listed the project at Emerson Village to be built at 3626 Rural Road in one phase.
The developer’s intention to expand in phases was conveyed during their approval.
The townhomes on the 35-acre property will be priced in the high $400,000s, while the single-unit homes will cost $525,000 to $535,000.
"This is not an opportunity to reopen the plan; that’s done. The plan meets the requirements of our ordinance."Jack Gross, township solicitor
Township resident Karen Pashefko stated concerns about the loss of trees on the property.
She presented the commissioners with a results of a woodlands survey conducted in 2023 by Keystone Consulting Engineers that identified seven areas of tree cover.
The survey concluded that two areas contained trees that should be preserved.
“I’m not opposed to this development, just to the cutting down of a healthy forest,” Pashefko told the board. “I believe there should be a discussion again on preserving these trees.”
Commissioners Vice President Jeffrey Warren said with regret the board never received the results of the study.
“I’m disappointed this was not made available to me,” Warren said. “We made a lot of concessions on this property — narrow roads, losing a vernal pool.”
While Pashefko urged the board to do something to preserve the trees, township solicitor Jack Gross told her nothing can be done at this point.
“This plan is approved,” he said. “This is not an opportunity to reopen the plan; that’s done. The plan meets the requirements of our ordinance.”
Janet Minnick, a township resident and Penn State master gardener, told the board that Section 7, which is closest to nearby Fellowship Community retirement community, has oak and hickory trees and is a “small ecological miracle.”
“This special place should be sacred to Whitehall and to the world,” she said.
Helfrich Springs, Peter Grim projects a go
Commissioners unanimously approved funding for the Helfrich Springs Grist Mill and Peter Grim House Accessibility Project.
The ordinance will award a $30,800 contract for a consultant to draft plans for the project on Mickley Road.
The cost of the project will be paid with a combination of grant funding, historical society funds and township recreation matching funds.
Funding will support the planning, design and construction to create ADA-accessible access to both locations on Mickley Road, as well as updating the parking lots.
Also planned is development of a historic restoration and maintenance plan for the property.
It will include a site evaluation, a prioritization of immediate and future restoration/maintenance work, a description of each noted project and recommended materials and any municipal requirements related to the work.
Both properties are now owned by the township.
Waiver request stalls community expansion
A developer’s request to expand Fellowship Community’s apartment units was tabled until the township planning commission reviews a waiver request regarding a stormwater facility.
Bible Fellowship Church Homes Inc., plans 24 luxury apartments over three buildings on its 67-acre campus at 3600 Mauch Chunk Road in two phases.
The project was initially submitted as a single-phase plan.
Commissioners told Scott Pasterski of Keystone Consulting Engineers that the project cannot be approved until the waiver for not having to build the $500,000 stormwater facility during Phase 1 is reviewed by the township’s planning commission.
The request for two phases has been made because of a lack of funding for the security deposit for the infrastructure.
“If they break it into phasing, they don’t have to put up as much money all at once,” township engineer Frank Clark has said.
“That will make it a lot cheaper for them to put the first building up, generate some revenue and then have enough money to secure the rest of the project.”
