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Politics & Government

Meet the Lower Mac Zoning Hearing Board

Bill Royer and Brian Higgins are doing whatever it takes to make the right decision regarding the challenges to proposed farmland development.

It’s like mixing dogs and cats; apples and oranges, or Country and Rock-N-Roll..

Lawyers and business people don‘t usually blend.

But the two businessmen who comprise the Lower Macungie Township Zoning Hearing Board said at their July 25 meeting that they’re holding up just fine against the barbs shot across the township room by lawyers.

The lawyers are trying to prove -- or disprove -- that Orefield agri-businessman David Jaindl acted properly with his plans to turn about 600 acres of farmland into homes, warehouses and a retail site.

The businessmen -- William Royer and alternate member Brian Higgins -- listened to the legal talk, and then often obtained an interpretation from board solicitor Mark Malkemes, their lawyer. They are determined to make the proper final decision.

Royer is president, chief executive and founder of Transition Group Inc., listed in Macungie, which works to increase businesses‘ and employees‘ sales, performance and productivity.  He’s also a former Bethlehem Steel executive and the founder of Lehigh Valley Magazine.

“He has a contagious entrepreneurial leadership style that makes things happen where they have not happened before,’’ according to a TGI press release.

Indeed, a lot could happen during these hearings and Royer looks forward to it.

“It’s a lot of fun to learn, and that’s what we’re doing,” Royer said. “We’re both businessmen and we’re in the midst of a bunch of esteemed lawyers.

“Sometimes things are repeated, but that’s okay. We want everybody to make sure we understand what they’re saying. Sometimes they want to say it two or three different ways, but that’s okay.
“We try and end by 9:30 p.m.”

Higgins, who joined Royer in the front of the room in January, is a pharmaceutical representative  from Hudson County, N.J. He has relatives in Emmaus and fell in love with the Lower Macungie area a decade ago. He moved into the area seven years ago.

He is a candidate for East Penn School Board.

“I submitted applications to the township to volunteer for any one of a number of boards and this is where the opening was,” he said. “I don’t have any real estate experience, but I have about 30 credits of law school, so I understand some…I wouldn’t consider myself a legal expert by any means.

“It’s definitely a learning experience for me. We couldn’t have a more complex decision to learn from.“

Royer said being in the township limelight wasn’t what either asked for.

“If you know the history, Brian and I are here, but we didn’t want to be here,” Royer said. “What we want to do is have a fair and balanced decision and have a very open communication with the community.

“So that’s what our goal is. We don’t have an agenda. It’s set by the appellants more than anything else.

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“You have to ask them if things are going according to their timetable. My sense if that we’re getting closer to the end than we were. It’s starting to move at a faster rate and we’re starting to see some substance.”

Higgins said the zoning board has been a learning experience for him.

“They talk about the 1988 ordinance,“ he said. “I was a sophomore in high school in Hudson County back then.“

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