Saturday, September 17, 2011
How about a movie tonight?
1. Weather: If you like fall, you'll love today's weather. The National Weather Service forecast for our area says we'll enjoy a partly sunny day with a high around 68 degrees. 2. In Case You Missed It: Lower Macungie Commissioners will fight Judge Michele Varricchio's invalidation of the zoning ordinance that would prevent the development of 600 acres of farmland. 3. Quote of the Day: "Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally." David Frost. 4. Coming Up: You have to read Kelly-Anne Suarez's review of "Contagion." It's a laugh and a half. 5. Today in History: Beginning early on the morning of this day in 1862, Confederate and Union troops in the Civil War clash near Maryland'…
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Appellants claim they were never notified that their property was being rezoned.
The Lower Macungie Township Zoning Hearing Board heard continued testimony July 25 regarding the approximately 600 acres of farmland – referred to several time during the hearing as the “western third of the township – that David Jaindl is interested in developing with warehouses, commercial enterprises and a high-density residential area. Contention was the order of the evening as Township Engineer William Erdman answered questions from lawyers Donald Miles and Thomas Anewalt for the appellants, Joseph Zator for Jaindl and Peter Lehr for the township. Through questioning Erdman, Miles tried to establish that there were no studies done that addressed water volume or quality, nor were there any studies done regarding traffic prior to the …
40.51759
-75.60776
8342 Spring Creek Rd, Alburtis, PA
Vicinity of proposed Jaindl development
/articles/lower-mac-zoning-hearing-board-hears-further-testimony-regarding-jaindl-development
/locations/4934319
Monday, July 18, 2011
Still, for all the supposed interest in preserving the township's farmland, it could be better.
Lawyer Joe Zator won a lot of technical decisions for Jaindl Land Co. at the Lower Macungie Township’s Zoning Hearing Board meeting on July 14, but he was floored when it came to predicting pubic interest. “With the number of hearings we had so far, there has been certainly no interest by the residents so far, even with the media hype,” Zator said in June as he prepared for the meeting. “Virtually no one has been in attendance, not even appellants filing litigation.’’ But the tide may be turning. With the meeting held in the meeting room in the Lower Macungie Township Building, all 50-some seats were quickly filled by the public, and more folding chairs were needed for the overflow crowd. “I was happy to see the public participate,” said …
40.526141
-75.54878
Lower Macungie Township Building
3400 Brookside Rd, Macungie, PA
/articles/interest-in-lower-mac-zoning-hearing-increases
1828410
/locations/4866035
Monday, April 18, 2011
Smaller communities have "very little political leverage when dealing with the state or private interests."
In my column on local government mergers in New Jersey, one of the benefits officials talked about was leverage. Governments that represent larger numbers of people can better compete for state and federal money than smaller governments can. For instance, Woodbridge Township, NJ (whose government represents 10 small towns) can afford to employ a full-time grant writer whose entire job is to seek grants from the state and federal governments for local projects. Because the government of Woodbridge represents a larger number of people, they also have a stronger claim to appropriations. When Northampton County asks Harrisburg for matching funds on a project, it's asking on behalf of almost 300,000 people. When Easton alone asks the state …
To rain or not to rain...that is the question.
1. Weather: We could go either way here. The National Weather service forecast for our area says there's a 30 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m. today. Less than a tenth of an inch is expected. 2. In Case You Missed It: Lower Macungie Township must disclose all information it has regarding the zoning ordinance created early in 2010 that will allow David Jaindl to develop more than 700 acres of farmland. 3. Biz Bites: Walgreens is offering Redbox movies when you buy two dozen eggs, which you were going to buy this week anyway, right? 4. Quote of the Day: "A two-year-old is kind of like having a blender, but you don't have a top for it." -- Jerry Seinfeld. 5. Today in History: On this day in 1956 Philadelphia girl Grace Kelly married …
40.55591
-75.58015
Walgreens
6379 Hamilton Blvd, Allentown, PA
/articles/five-things-to-know-today-april-18-3
1801478
/locations/4067148
Sunday, April 17, 2011
But zoners' chairman rules subpoenas will not be issued -- at least for now -- in the matter that affects Jaindl's 700-acre plan.
A decision Sunday will require the Lower Macungie Township commissioners to provide all documents relevant to the creation of an ordinance that rezoned more than 700 acres of township farmland. However, Zoning Hearing Board Chairman William Royer did not issue subpoenas requested for individuals to give testimony at this time, though the legal team trying to appeal the ordinance may be given that opportunity at a later date. Donald Miles, the lawyer who represents objectors to developing the farmland, wanted Royer to issue the subpoenas to several people including David Jaindl, the developer, and several other people who either work with Jaindl or for the township. At the April 13 zoning meeting, Royer promised to deliver his decision on…
40.526141
-75.54878
Lower Macungie Township Community Center
3400 Brookside Rd, Macungie, PA
/articles/lower-macungie-must-produce-farmland-ordinance-documents
1827884
/locations/4066194
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Several points were argued, but only one was decided.
The Lower Macungie Township Zoning Hearing Board met April 13 to address four issues surrounding the ordinance that would allow the Jaindl Land Co. to develop 700 acres of farmland in the southwest corner of the township. The issues on the board’s agenda included: Attorneys Donald Miles and Robert Rust represented Streck. Joseph Zator represented the Jaindl interests, and special solicitor Peter Lehr represented the township commissioners. Counsel for the Zoning Hearing Board was Mark Malkames. Though the intent was to get through all four issues, the only one that was fully decided was the first in which Royer and Brian Higgins, the other Zoning Hearing Board member, voted 2-0 to deny either a restraining order or a stay to the Jaindl …
40.52216
-75.5486
3500 Brookside Rd, Macungie, PA
/articles/lower-macungie-zoning-hearing-board-meets-to-address-jaindl-issues
/locations/4032811
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Representatives of the Friends for the Protection of Lower Macungie Township and the Jaindl Land Co. will present opposing sides of the issues.
When the Lower Macungie Township Zoning Hearing Board meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night in the Community Center, the Friends for the Protection of Lower Macungie Township will be asking for permission to subpoena several key players involved in rezoning hundreds of acres of farmland so the Jaindl Land Co. can put warehouses, shops and hundreds of homes on it. The Friends group, through its attorney Robert Rust, says that more than a year ago, the Lower Macungie Commissioners secretly agreed to the rezoning to keep Jaindl from building a quarry on the land. To get to the bottom of the issue, Rust says, it's necessary to subpoena 12 people including David Jaindl; Scott Pidcock; Commissioners Roger Reis, Ran Conrad, Douglas Brown, Ron …
40.52473
-75.54952
3450 Brookside Rd, Macungie, PA
/articles/lower-macungie-zoners-will-address-farmland-issues
/locations/4011253
LoMac Res
8:23 am on Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Focus on keeping out the warehouses. These things are true blights on our community, and choke and destroy our roads with trucks. more ›