Boards and Commissions

Planning Commission

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The South Whitehall Township Planning Commission is a seven-member board comprised of Township residents. Each of the members are appointed by the South Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners and serve four-year terms or until they are replaced by the BOC. They serve voluntarily without pay.

 

Planning Commission Members

 

  • David Wilson  | Chairman (Term expires 12/2022)
  • Brian Hite  | Vice Chairman (Term expires 4/2026)
  • Trevor Dombach  | Member (Term expires 4/2024)
  • Timothy Dugan | Asst Secretary (Term expires 4/2026)
  • Todd Fahringer | Member (Term expires 6/2027)
  • Diane E. Kelly  | Member (Term expires 7/2022)
  • Mark Leuthe  | Member (Term expires 7/2025)
  • Anthony Tallarida  | Assistant Engineer
  • Jennifer Alderfer, Director of Legal Affairs  |  Solicitor

 

If you are interested in serving on this Commission, please click on the Volunteer Board Member Application link below to print out, complete, and return to South Whitehall Township as directed on the form. There is (0) vacancy at this time.

Volunteer Board Member Application Form

Letter of Intent for Board Reappointment Form

 

Please send any communications for the Planning Commission to David Manhardt, Director of Community Development.

 

 About the Board

The great bulk of the subject matter studied by the Planning Commission pertains to the suitability of land development and subdivision plans; however, it also reviews proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map, proposed changes to the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, Comprehensive Plan revisions, rezoning petitions, and conditional use applications.

The subject matter to be considered by the Planning Commission is advertised in the newspaper, as a Public Notice in the classified ads section, two weeks, and again one week, before the meeting. Public Notices are also posted on this web site. As a courtesy, ten days before a meeting, the Township will attempt to send property owners within 300 feet of a proposed land development a copy of the Public Notice by mail.

Subdivision and Land Development applications must be submitted by the published cut-off date. Resubmitted plans may be received after the published cut-off date, with the prior agreement of staff and Township Engineer. There can be no guarantee, however, that plans submitted will be deemed sufficient for a review by the Planning Commission. Also, circumstances such as: the volume of plans to be considered, the availability of a quorum, or bad weather can affect the possibility of having a review on the desired date. The members do their best to accommodate expeditious review; however, most plans require more than one meeting before a recommendation can be rendered.

The Planning Commission is advisory to the Board of Commissioners. After it completes its own deliberations, the Planning Commission forwards its recommendation on to the Board of Commissioners for final disposition. 

The Planning Commission’s annual reports to the Board of Commissioners can be found here: 

2021 Report

2022 Report

2023 Report

 

Meeting Schedule and Information

All meetings are open to the public.  

This Board meets at 7:00 PM in the Public Meeting Room of the Township Municipal Building , 4444 Walbert Avenue and virtually via the link on the event or through the Planning Commission GoToMeeting Room.  The Planning Commission generally meets on the second Thursday of each month; but there may be cancellations of regularly scheduled meetings or extra meetings scheduled for emergency purposes and heavy case loads.

Meeting Recordings:  Meeting recordings can be accessed by visiting the South Whitehall Township Planning Commission Meeting Recordings Playlist.  You may also access the recordings by clicking on the specific event below and following the link found on the event page.

Meeting Documents:  Recent Planning Commission meeting documents are available in the calendar list below.  All meeting documents since February 2020 can be found in the "Planning Commission Documents" folders located at the upper left corner of this page.

Meeting Dates and Information:

Planning Commission

Notice is hereby given that the Planning Commission of South Whitehall Township will meet in the Township Municipal Building located at 4444 Walbert Avenue, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, on Thursday August 18, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. for an agenda review, and at 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of conducting a public meeting to discuss the following, and any other business brought before the Board.  The meeting will also be streamed live but, due to the limitations of the facility, public comment may not be available for remote viewers.  To access the meeting through your phone, dial 1-224-501-3412 and, when prompted, enter 757 430 189.  To access though your computer, go to https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/757430189.

 Click here to download the Planning Commission Meeting Agenda

Click here to download the Planning Commission Agenda Information Packet

 

MONTAR GROUP LLC PROPOSED SELF-STORAGE FACILITY
MAJOR PLAN 2022-107
REQUEST FOR PRELIMINARY/FINAL PLAN REVIEW
An application to further develop the property located at 3350 and 3354 Walbert Avenue.  The plan proposes to consolidate the two parcels, raze the existing residential and agricultural structures, and construct a three-story, 112,800 square-foot self-storage facility, a 16-space parking lot, and associated stormwater management facilities on the 2.007-acre parcel.  The property is served by public water and public sewer, and is zoned General Commercial-1 (Special Height Limitation) GC-1.  3354 Walbert Avenue Associates LP is the owner.  TAC Allentown LLC is the applicant.

Click here to download the July 21, 2022 Preliminary/Final Plan Set

Click here to download the August 18, 2022 Planning Commission Agenda Information Packet Excerpt

 

1670 CHURCH ROAD PADDA PROPERTY LLC
MAJOR PLAN 2022-104
REQUEST FOR PRELIMINARY/FINAL PLAN REVIEW
An application to further develop the property located at 1670 Church Road.  The plan proposes to renovate the existing 4,300 square foot commercial building, construct a 26-space parking lot, and stormwater management facility on the approximately 4.4-acre parcel.  The property is to be served by public water and public sewer, and is zoned Industrial Commercial-1 (Special Height Limitation) IC-1.  Padda Property LLC is the owner and applicant.

Click here to download the July 18, 2022 Preliminary/Final Plan Set

Click here to download the August 18, 2022 Planning Commission Agenda Information Packet Excerpt

 

RIDGE FARM FINAL PLAN PHASE 1B
MAJOR PLAN 2017-101
REQUEST FOR FINAL PLAN REVIEW
An application to develop the properties located at 1802 North Cedar Crest Boulevard (the northwest corner of the Walbert Avenue/Cedar Crest Boulevard intersection).  The plan proposes 5 apartment buildings containing a total of 6 units; 14 two-unit dwelling units (7 pairs of twins); the continuation of Yellowstone Road, Road M and its intersection with Cedar Crest Boulevard, and a portion of Road H; and Basins 3 and 4 and associated stormwater management facilities on a 13.2-acre portion of the 31.9644-acre tract.  The property is zoned R-10 and TND-Residential Cluster Overlay District and is being developed as a TND-Residential Cluster Overlay.  Kay Walbert LLC is the equitable owner and applicant.

Click here to download the July 21, 2022 Final Plan Set

Click here to download the August 18, 2022 Planning Commission Agenda Information Packet Excerpt

 

ZONING ORDINANCE SERVICE PACK 2C
REQUEST FOR ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT REVIEW
Proposed amendments to the South Whitehall Township Zoning Ordinance, including but not limited to: Amend Section 350-05(c) Definitions To Correct An Incorrect Reference;  Amend Section 350-24(c) Zoning District Schedules To Amend Child Daycare Center To Daycare Center To Maintain Consistency With The Use Schedule;  Amend Sections 350-24(c)(1) RR-1 Zoning District Schedule and 350-24(c)(2) RR-2 Zoning District Schedule To Maintain Consistency With Section 350-48(p)(3) Pet Shop;  Amend Section 350-24(c)(3) RR Zoning District Schedule To Maintain Consistency With Section 350-48(w)(7) Wind Energy Systems, Small Roof-Mounted;  Amend Section 350-24(c)(7) R-5 Zoning District Schedule To Maintain Consistency With Section 350-48(s)(12) Solar Energy System, Non-Residential;  Amend Sections 350-24(c)(7) R-5 Zoning District Schedule And 350-24(c)(8) R-10 Zoning District Schedule To Amend Note #20;  Amend Section 350-24(c)(11) G-C Zoning District Schedule To Maintain Consistency With Section 350-48(w)(4) Wholesale Sales;  Amend Section 350-24(c)(12) GC-1 Zoning District Schedule To Maintain Consistency With Section 350-48(r)(9) Retail Sales;  Amend Section 350-24(c)(14) Highway Commercial Zoning District Schedule To Amend Bulk Criteria Standards for Three-Flats and Townhomes;  Amend Section 350-24(c)(14) HC-1 Zoning District Schedule To Maintain Consistency With Section 350-48(o)(5) Office Park;  Amend Section 350-24(c)(16) IC-1 Zoning District Schedule Permitted Uses To Maintain Consistency With Section 350-48(r)(10) Retirement Facility;  Amend Section 350-31(f)(1)(C)(i) TND Neighborhood Infill Development Overlay District to Correct the “The following Area and Bulk regulations shall apply:” Table;  Amend Section 350-31(f)(3)(C)(ii)(c) to Correct Broken References;  Amend Section 350-31(f)(3)(E)(vi) to Correct an Incorrect Numbering;  Repair Broken References Referencing Section 350-41;  Amend Section 350-48 To Clarify A Number of Special Exception Uses As Primary Uses, Accessory Uses Or Both;  Amend Section 350-48 To Clarify A Number of Conditional Uses As Primary Uses;  Amend Section 350-48(a)(1) Accessory Dwelling Unit, Attached To Correct A Copy-And-Paste Error;  Amend Section 350-48(a)(2) Accessory Dwelling Unit, Detached To Correct A Typographical Error;  Amend Section 350-48(b)(2) Bed And Breakfast To Clarify An Asterisk;  Amend Section 350-48(c)(11) Coordinated Development To Repair Broken Links;  Amend Section 350-48(e)(1) Electric Vehicle Charging Station To Clarify A Conflict With Off-Street Parking Standards;  Amend Section 350-48(f)(3) Farm Roadside Stand to Clarify a conflict between Subsections (C) and (E) Regarding Special Exception Approval;  Amend Section 350-48(s)(6) Self-Storage Facility to Correct the “Where Permitted” Table;  Delete Section 350-48(m)(3) Massage Service Establishment and renumber the appropriate Sections;  Amend Section 350-48(s)(9)(A) Short-Stay Medical Center Definition to Correct a Typographical Error;  Amend Section 350-05(d) Definitions To Add A Definitions For “Parking Aisle” And “Parking Area”;  Amend Section 350-42(b)(4) Screening Requirements To Clarify And Increase Options For Buffer Strips and to Clarify When Buffer Strips Are Required;  Clarify Section 350-42(d) Driveways;  Amend Section 350-42(f) Fences And Retaining Walls To Require Permits For All Fences;  Amend Section 350-42(v) Water And Sewer Services To Correct The Residential Housing Types So Listed;  Amend Section 350-46(a) Temporary Uses By Right;  Amend Section 350-47(3) Nonconforming Structures And Buildings To Clarify The Conditions Under Which A Nonconforming Building Or Structure May Be Rebuilt;  Amend Section 350-48 To Clarify The Order Of Precedence For Uses That Contain Other Uses;  Amend Section 350-48(d)(1) Dairy And Food Processing And Distribution To Define The Use, Add Secondary On-Site Retail Sales And/Or Consumption Of The Consumables Produced On-Site As A Special Exception Use, And Add Standards And Regulations Of Said Secondary On-Site Retail Sales And/Or Consumption Of The Consumables Produced On-Site;  Amend Section 350-48(g)(5) Golf Driving Range To Clarify Use;  Amend Section 350-48(m)(7) Motor Vehicle Repair Facility to Correct and Inconsistency with Section 350-48(m)(9) Motor Vehicle Service Facility;  Amend Section 350-48(o)(2) Off-Street Parking to Clarify the Requirements for Off-Street Parking Spaces;  Amend Section 350-48(o)(2)(E)(iii)(a) Off-Street Parking To Remove The Prohibition Of Indented Parking Spaces From The Zoning Ordinance;  Amend Section 350-48(o)(2)(E)(iii)(a)(8) Off-Street Parking Design Standards To Require Pedestrian Safety Measures In All Large Parking Lots;  Amend Section 350-48(p)(2) Personal Service Business To Clarify The Regulations Pertaining To Personal Service Businesses And Laundromats;  Amend Section 350-48(s)(10)(E)(ii)(b)(1) Exempt Signs to Clarify the Regulations Regarding Drive-Thru Menu Boards;  Amend Section 350-48(s)(10)(E)(ii)(c) Temporary Event Signs To Clarify Use;  Amend Section 350-48(s)(10)(E)(ii)(f) Exempt Signs to Clarify the Regulations Regarding Flags;  Amend Section 350-48(s)(10)(E)(viii) General Sign Regulations to Clarify the Sign Regulations for Grand Openings.

 

 

All properties are located in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Copies of plans, applications and supporting documents are available for public inspection upon request.
Gregg Adams, Planner, Community Development Department


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