UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — A new conceptual design for a controversial housing development will be reviewed by the Upper Macungie Township Planning Commission on Wednesday.
Sunset Orchards is a proposed residential development consisting of 110 twin home units, which are similar to duplexes, and 106 townhome units.
- Upper Macungie planners will discuss the Sunset Orchards residential development at their meeting Wednesday
- Developers submitted a new conceptual design, which the planning commission will review but not vote on at this meeting
- At a previous meeting, residents were concerned about the impact the development would have on traffic, storm water drainage and road safety
The development would be built at Schantz and Ruppsville roads. The property used to be a tree farm, but now is unoccupied.
According to the agenda for the 7 p.m. meeting in the township municipal building, the applicant has submitted a new conceptual design. The commission will discuss the plan but not take any action on it.
Resident controversy
The planning commission discussed the original sketch plan for the project at its October meeting.
Dozens of residents from the neighborhood that would border the development attended that meeting to express concern about the impact it would have on traffic, stormwater drainage and road safety.
“There's nothing about it I like. It'll change, and when it changes we'll all be able to address it properly. Right now, it's in such infancy. We're looking at it, and we're just as dazed as you are.”Chris Walls, Upper Macungie Planning Commission member
Planning commission member Chris Walls said at the October meeting that the developer will change its proposal based on the feedback from the board and residents.
He also said that, as a resident of the nearby neighborhood, he did not like the original sketch plan.
“There's nothing about it I like,” Walls said at the time. “It'll change, and when it changes, we'll all be able to address it properly. Right now, it's in such infancy. We're looking at it, and we're just as dazed as you are.”
Township Community Development Director Kal Sostarecz told the residents several times at the meeting that if the proposal meets the zoning ordinances for the area, there is nothing the township can legally do to stop it from being developed.
Planning and Zoning Administrative Specialist John Toner said the proposed plan falls under a permitted use in the area.
