UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — Plans for more than 200 homes near Schantz and Ruppsville roads can move ahead after the township planning commission Wednesday recommended preliminary approval for the project.
“We're comfortable with what they've addressed in our letters, as well as previous township engineers’ letters, and we are comfortable for preliminary approval,” said Ryan Kern, an engineer for Herbert, Rowland and Grubic Inc. working with the township.
“I don't know that the plan changed dramatically. Most of the other changes that were made were to address engineering comments.”Jason Engelhardt, principal at Langan Engineering working on the Sunset Orchards project
Developer D.R. Horton first submitted plans in 2023 for Sunset Orchards, a residential neighborhood built around a new road connecting Schantz Road and Bastian Lane along Interstate 78.
Current plans call for 197 townhouses and six twin homes. Plans also call for a dog park, recreation field and pedestrian path for residents to use.
The new homes will generate about 84 new car trips during the morning traffic peak and 105 trips during the afternoon peak, according to the developer’s traffic study.
“I don't know that the plan changed dramatically," said Jason Engelhardt, principal at Langan Engineering working on the Sunset Orchards project.
"Most of the other changes that were made were to address engineering comments.”
Development to be built in 3 phases
During Wednesday’s meeting, the commission also recommended granting a trio of waivers from township land development regulations governing the angles of lot lines, the width of a grass strip between roads and sidewalks, and the grading of land subject to sewer easements.
D.R. Horton plans to build the development in three phases, starting with the southwest corner of the site.
Phase one, which includes 62 townhomes and all six twins, is set to take a year and a half to two years to finish, according to a representative for the developer, though that estimate is only a first guess and subject to change.
In Sunset Orchards’ next step toward beginning construction, Upper Macungie’s board of supervisors will vote on whether to grant preliminary development approval and the project’s three requested waivers.
The developer will need to return to ask township officials for final land development approval before breaking ground.
