Kratzer Farm House to be Sold

The discussion was still contentious and the vote close, but in the end the Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners approved a plan to divide the 86-acre Kratzer Farm into two parcels, enabling the township to sell off the house located on the property. 

The subdivision approval, which came in a 3-2 vote at the board's Dec. 5 meeting, splits the farm into two lots, creating a sellable parcel on Willow Lane of about an acre in size that includes the house.

Commissioners Ron Eichenberg, Jim Lancsek and Roger Reis voted in favor of the subdivision plan, while Doug Brown and Ryan Conrad opposed it.

Brown said he was voting against the subdivision because the township's parks, recreation and open space plan suggests that a plan for the farm be created before any decision is made on the property. He thought the board should delay action until that happened.

Julie McDonnell, of the parks and recreation board, addressed the board with her committee's continued objections to the subdivision.

The Kratzer Farm subdivision plan approved last week is slightly different than the plan that had been on the table previously. The earlier plan would have put both the home and the barn up for sale. The township retains the barn under the current subdivision plan.