One Victory in the Marathon for Smart Growth and Transparency in LMT

Judge Michele A. Varricchio has shot down zoning changes in Lower Macungie Township, a victory for those supporting smart growth and transparent government in our township. While important, it’s just another step for the community to take back control over the tone of our township through it’s zoning laws. We must take back this power from developers, their lawyers and any commissioners (BOC) who choose to get into bed with them.

The only ethical choice the BOC can make now is to completely re-start and re-evaluate the process. Only this time in the sunshine, with meaningful due diligence and community input. Storm water management, sewer and water infrastructure and traffic impact must be studied in addition to a cost-benefit analysis on continued road maintenance and schools. And most importantly the communities overwhelming desire for open space as cited in multiple surveys must be taken into account.  We have zoning laws in this country to dictate where certain development can occur and where it cannot to reflect the best interests of the community. From a planning standpoint as laid out by regional and local comprehensive plans a build out in a secluded corner of the township away from population centers with a 20+ year precedent of agriculture protection on some of the regions most significant soil simply makes zero sense. No sense that is unless you are a powerful developer with a team of lawyers who stands to benefit  through a complete 180 degree turn of 20+ year zoning precedence. Furthermore lip service of “green zones” are borderline insulting to the communities intelligence. These green zones so “generously” donated are primarily located in flood plains which cannot be built on no matter what.

I personally firmly believe a quarry would never have been built to the scale presented in Mr. Jaindl’s plans. I cannot believe regulations would have allowed for this. The size and scope of a potential quarry that would most likely be built is much less destructive and the impacts far less permanent than this build out of a million sq. ft of warehouses, high density residential development of an urban scale and more commercial zones when the township is already dotted with half empty lots in the appropriate commercial corridor of rt. 222. Why would we build more commercial zones, when appropriately zoned areas have empty parcels?

The BOC will vote tomorrow on whether or not to appeal the decision and spend further taxpayer money on supporting it’s deal with a land developer. So far, $100,000 has been spent by the township supporting this zoning amendment according to a recent right to know request. Citizen input at tomorrow’s meeting is essential. The BOC will consider your input on this matter but you have to show up to have your voice heard! The meeting is at 7pm tomorrow, Sept. 15, in the township building on Brookside Road.

If you are interested further in preserving our quality of life, supporting the continued growth of our township in an thoughtful fashion and for citizens to dictate the tone of the township, not lawyers and developers please join the “Friends for Protection of Lower Macungie Township” mailing list by sending a message to: cfrankenberg@cleanwater.org Furthermore visit the groups Facebook page at www.facebook.com/friendslmt. You can view the page and it’s archive of information in the discussion section even if you are not a member of Facebook.