***UPDATE/NOTICE (11/29/2022): The applicant (Allen Development Partners, LLC) will NOT be appearing at this scheduled hearing and has requested a continuance. The new hearing date will be announced.



Original Notice (11/17/2022):

Notice of Zoning Hearing Board Reorganization Meeting And Appeal - Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 7:00PM



This Notice was mailed to adjoining property owners as a certified letter on Thursday, November 17, 2022. The subject parcel was posted with this Zoning Hearing Board Appeal Notice on Thursday, November 17, 2022.

NOTICE OF ZONING HEARING BOARD REORGANIZATION MEETING AND APPEAL
ALLEN TOWNSHIP



Notice is hereby given, under the Code of Allen Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Chapter 27 (Zoning), Part 1909, as amended, that a public hearing will be held by the Allen Township Zoning Hearing Board, at the Allen Township Fire Company Building, located at 3530 Howertown Road, Northampton, Pennsylvania, 18067.

DATE OF HEARING: December 6, 2022

TIME OF HEARING: 7:00 P.M.

The following appeal will be heard:

Hearing 2022-01 – To hear the request and appeal of Allen Development Partners, LLC (Appellant/ Purchaser of Property), of 201 South Maple Avenue, Ambler, PA 19002. Location: 701 Nor Bath Boulevard, Northampton, PA 18067 Tax Map Parcel: L4 12 1 0501. The subject parcel is located in the Highway Commercial (HC) Zoning District, south of Nor Bath Boulevard in the vicinity of Savage Road.

The Appellant/Purchaser of property hereby seeks the following variances in accordance with the provisions of the Allen Township Code of Ordinances, Chapter 27, Part 1909:

Section 1505(19)(F) to allow one (1) additional fuel pump with two (2) fueling positions where seven (7) fuel pumps and fourteen (14) positions are permitted;

Section 1505(19)(F)(3) to allow a gas canopy 7,150 square feet in size where a gas canopy equal to square footage of the building, but not greater than 7,000 square feet is permitted;

Section 1505(19)(G)(2) to allow gas canopy lighting over fuel dispensing positions to exceed an average of 20.0 maintained footcandles for an average of 29.48 footcandles in accordance with the recommended standards of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America; and

Section 1704(B)(2) to allow three proposed freestanding signs since all four side of the property front on a street.

Copies of the appeal application, plans and supporting documents are available for public inspection at the Allen Township Municipal Building, located at 4714 Indian Trail Road, Northampton, PA during normal business hours. The hearing is open to the public and all interested parties may attend and will be heard.

The Board will meet at 6:45 PM, prior to the hearing, for the annual reorganization of members and any other incidental business.



Ilene Marie Eckhart
Zoning Officer/Manager
Allen Township

Northampton Press: 11/16 & 11/23/22

The Kreidersville Covered Bridge Association will be hosting their tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, December 10th, 2022 from 4:30PM to 5:30PM. The rain/snow date for this event is Sunday, December 11th (same time). The address for the park is 100 Covered Bridge Road, Northampton, PA 18067.

Please visit the Kreidersville Covered Bridge Association's website for additional information about the event: CLICK HERE

Please e-mail the Kreidersville Covered Bridge Association directly with any questions. kcbchallenge@gmail.com

UPDATE 3 (dated 11/28/2022): The City of Bethlehem’s contractor will be returning to the site to complete the waterline project - date TBD.



UPDATE 2 (dated 11/18/2022): Due to unforeseen circumstances, the City of Bethlehem’s contractor will not be installing the check valve at Mud Lane and Buttonwood Road until Monday, November 28th. Temporary paving will be placed following the installation of the check valve. This work may continue through Tuesday, November 29th.

The contractor has been asked to clear the streets for the residents of East Allen Gardens prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Permanent paving will not occur until Spring 2023 in accordance with the Township rules and regulations.



UPDATE 1 (dated 11/14/2022): The City of Bethlehem’s contractor is scheduled to be back on site on Monday, November 21st, to install the check valve at Mud Lane and Buttonwood Road.



ORIGINAL POST (dated 11/01/2022): The City of Bethlehem continues to work on the installation of a waterline and associated utility work along Mud Lane (along the intersections of Buttonwood Road and Redwood Drive) and Buttonwood Road. The project will continue across Seemsville Road into East Allen Township. It is currently anticipated that the waterline installation work within Allen Township (all work on the west side of Seemsville Road) will be tentatively completed by Thursday, November 10th, 2022.

The portion of the project located in East Allen Township (all work on the east side of Seemsville Road) will be completed by Friday, November 18th, 2022. Water service to existing customers will not be affected by this construction project.

Traffic will be able to pass in a one-lane condition during construction. Temporary traffic control measures will be implemented by the City of Bethlehem’s contractor.

Local residents and emergency services will continue to have access to these residences but all other traffic should plan alternate routes during the construction of this improvement.

Click here to view the Overall Plan.

Thank you for your cooperation.

The firefighters will be delivering presents to residents on Sunday, December 11th beginning at 12 noon.

The cost will be $10.00 per gift and 1 gift per child.

To register, please e-mail to santa@allentwpfire.com or call at 610-262-1101 (please leave a message).

The gift drop-off will be Monday, December 5th, 6-8pm at the Fire Station entrance at 3530 Howertown Road. Please check the Fire Company's website and Facebook page for updates on this.

The Allen Township Board of Supervisors are considering a change to the start time for regular general public meetings.

  Board of Supervisors meetings currently begin at 7:00 PM on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Planning Commission meetings currently begin at 7:00 PM on the third Monday of each month. Meetings are held at the Allen Township Fire Company Building (3530 Howertown Road).

  The Board values the input of Allen Township residents and would encourage your attendance and participation at these meetings. In order to allow for maximum community involvement, the Supervisors are requesting your feedback on what start time for regular meetings best works for you and your typical schedule in order to allow you to attend these meetings in person if you choose.

  Please vote for your preferred start time for regular meetings and provide any comments or feedback regarding the meeting time and dates. Click HERE to vist the survey link. Additional feedback can be provided to the Board by emailing Allen Township at info@allentownship.org.

The First Regional Compost Authority (FRCA) will discontinue the acceptance of grass for the remainder of the 2022 Season on October 1st, 2022.

It is recommended that residents who typically dispose of their grass clippings at FRCA begin to grasscycle for the remainder of the 2022 mowing season. Please watch FRCA's website for updates. You may visit their website by clicking HERE.

Residents may NOT dispose of their yard waste in their regular garbage. Yard waste is no longer allowed in landfills in Pennsylvania.

The Allen Township Yard Waste Drop Off Site does NOT accept grass.

Grasscycling reduces the time, costs and labor of bagging grass and returns valuable nutrients to the soil. Grass clippings decompose quickly, so they do not contribute to thatch.

Mowing Practices for Grasscycling:

• * Mow weekly or bi-weekly during the peak growing season.
  
• * Remove no more than one-third of the leaf tissue with a sharp blade to allow the clippings to break down rapidly.
  
• * Although standard mowers do a fine job, mulching mowers chop the grass into finer pieces for quicker breakdown. Some mower manufactures offer mulching kits for standard mowers. If your mower has a bag to collect grass clippings, simply remove the bag when you mow to allow the cut grass to fall onto your yard as you mow.
  
• * When turf is overgrown (such as during rainy periods), large clumps may form after mowing. These clumps can be removed for back yard composting, used as mulch, or spread out on the lawn by remowing.

DEP Declares Drought Watch for 36 Counties, Asks for Voluntary Water Conservation: https://bit.ly/3COBYlA

DEP announced the Commonwealth Drought Task Force has declared a drought watch for 36 counties and asks for voluntary water conservation in those counties.

“A few counties have experienced very dry conditions over the summer, and a number of others have inched into increasingly dry conditions in recent weeks. We’re asking Pennsylvanians in all of these counties to use water wisely and follow simple water conservation tips to ease the demand for water,” said DEP Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh.

The following counties are on drought watch: Berks, Bucks, Bradford, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Dauphin, Delaware, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, and Wyoming.

Residents on drought watch are asked to reduce their individual water use by 5 to 10%, or a reduction of three to six gallons of water per day.

There are many ways to reduce water use around the house and yard, including:

• ✅ Run water only when necessary
• ✅ Run the dishwasher and washing machine less often
• ✅ Water your garden in the cooler evening or morning hours
• ✅ Water your lawn only if necessary
• ✅ Check for and repair household leaks
• ✅ Set up a rain barrel to be ready to repurpose rain when it does fall

Click HERE for a drought watch map provided by DEP.

Effective September 13, 2022, the Allen Township public sewer tapping fee will increase to $6,370 per Equivalent Dwelling Unit from $5,570. The draft resolution and supporting calculations can be reviewed by clicking on the following document link HERE.

PennDOT has provided Allen Township with the official Public Meeting Invitation Letter for residents regarding the Indian Trail Road (SR 3016) Bridge Replacement Project.

The meeting will consist of a brief presentation including a plans display and a question-and-answer period.

The meeting will take place Wednesday July 27, 2022 at the Allen Township Fire Company Building (3530 Howertown Road) at 6:00 PM.

Please click HERE to view the letter from PennDOT.

Should you have any comments or require additional information on this project, please contact Consultant Project Manager Michael Mignella, P.E. at (610) 783-3828 or by email at c-mmignell@pa.gov.

Please click HERE to view the concept display plans which were supplied to the Township in 2020.

Allen Township and Northampton Borough, are proposing to adopt a Joint Official Sewage Facilities Plan (Act 537 Plan) for the purpose of comprehensive sewage disposal planning within both municipalities.

The Plan was prepared to address the sewage collection, treatment, and disposal needs of both municipalities. Topics included within the Plan consist of previous wastewater planning, system description, mapping of existing infrastructure (in relation to municipal boundaries and physical characteristics), future growth and expansion, evaluation of alternatives, and institutional evaluation. The Plan also includes a description of the legal and administrative activities necessary to implement the Plan.

A 30-day public review and comment period is in effect. A draft version of the Joint Act 537 Plan is available for public review at either of the below listed Municipal Buildings during normal business hours.

Allen Township 4714 Indian Trail Road Northampton, PA 18067

Northampton Borough 1401 Laubach Avenue Northampton, PA 18067

Public comments may be submitted in writing (including emailed to info@allentownship.org.) Click HERE to view Draft Plan.

Please click HERE for the Spring 2022 newsletter.

Please click HERE for the 2022 residential schedule. Additional information can be found by visiting FRCA's website by clicking HERE.

At their meeting of Monday, January 24, 2022 the Allen Township Planning Commission recommended consideration of two draft ordinances to resolve the Willow Brook Farm and Alexandra H. Fuller Family Trust Zoning Ordinance Validity Challenge/Curative Amendment (filed May 3, 2019) and the Mixed Use Conceptual Plan to the Allen Township Board of Supervisors. Public Hearings and Tentative Enactment of the Mixed Use Village Draft Zoning & Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance Draft Amendments is scheduled for February 22, 2022 at 7 PM. Click here for the Public Hearing/Enactment Notice: February 22, 2022 7 PM PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE. The ordinance draft text is located within the pdf files located at the bottom of this message.

Click here for the filing and associated exhibits including the Challenge Plan Map (May 3rd, 2019):

Willowbrook Challenge to the Substantive Validity of the Allen Township Zoning Ordinance and Request for Curative Amendment Pursuant to Sections 609.1 and 916.1 of the Municipalities Planning Code Text and Willowbrook Challenge Plan.

Click here to view the plan presented to the Board of Supervisors at their meeting of November 24, 2020 to be used in the drafting of a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment"Willow Brook Farms Mixed-Use Community Conceptual Plan for Settlement Purposes".

Click here to view the comments of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (and responses from the Trust counsel) regarding the Draft Mixed Use Village SALDO and Zoning Amendments:

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Review Comments 22Sept21 - Draft Mixed Use Village Zoning & Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance Amendments.

Trust Counsel Response to Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Review Comments 07Oct21 - Draft Mixed Use Village Zoning & Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance Amendments.

Click here for the Draft Mixed Use Village Ordinance Amendment Texts: Draft Mixed Use Village Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance Amendment - Public Hearing/Tentative Enactment Scheduled for February 22, 2022 at 7 PM.


Draft Mixed Use Village Zoning Ordinance Amendment - Public Hearing/Tentative Enactment Scheduled for February 22, 2022 at 7 PM.

Allen Township requests all residents using the yard waste drop off/pickup area at the Municipal Building (or FRCA Processing Site) be sure to secure all incoming/outgoing loads of material. Please take this matter seriously at tie down all material in accordance with the Motor Vehicle Code!

At their meeting of Tuesday, November 24, 2020 the Board of Supervisors authorized the preparation of a draft amendment to the Allen Township Zoning Ordinance to resolve the validity challenge/curative amendment based upon the Willow Brook Farms Mixed-Use Community Plan, dated September 2020. Please check the Township website and agendas for updates (Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors)regarding this ongoing proceeding as this matter is expected to require multiple meetings to conclude.

As a matter of background, on May 3rd, 2019, Allen Township recieved the challenge to the substantive validity of the Allen Township Zoning Ordinance and request for curative amendment pursuant to Section 609.1 and 916.1 of the Municipalities Planning Code.

Pursuant to an excerpt of the challenge/filing as recieved from the property owners the request includes as follows:

"19. In order to cure the invalidity of the zoning of the undeveloped portions of the Willow Brook Property, Landowners seek a curative amendment: (a) rezoning a 55.47 acre portion of the Willow Brook Property, on the west side of the Catasauqua Creek, to the R-2 zoning district so that it can be developed with 73 age-restricted single-family detached dwellings, 48 age-restricted semi¬detached dwellings, and 54 age-restricted townhouses ("West Tract"); (b) rezoning a 38.04 acre portion of the Willow Brook Property, on the east side of the Catasauqua Creek, to the R-3 zoning district so that it can be developed with 214 multifamily dwellings ("North Tract"); and rezoning a 42.26 acre portion of the Willow Brook Property, on the east side of the Catasauqua Creek, to the R-3 zoning district so that it can be developed with 322 multifamily dwellings ("South Tract") as depicted on a Willow Brook Farm Challenge Plan dated December 1, 2018, prepared by Philip C. Seibert, RLA ("Challenge Plan") attached hereto as Exhibit "B". A copy of Landowner's Proposed Curative Amendment to the Zoning Map is attached hereto and made part hereof as Exhibit "C". 20. As depicted on the Challenge Plan, approximately 25.00 acres of the Willow Brook Property will continue to be used as a farm and equestrian center ("Farm Tract"). 21. As depicted on the Challenge Plan, approximately 39.93 acres of the Willow Brook Property (plus 42.03 acres in North Catasauqua Township) will continue to be used as a golf course and clubhouse and permitted accessory uses ("Golf Tract")."

Click here for the filing and associated exhibits including the Challenge Plan Map (May 3rd, 2019):

Willowbrook Challenge to the Substantive Validity of the Allen Township Zoning Ordinance and Request for Curative Amendment Pursuant to Sections 609.1 and 916.1 of the Municipalities Planning Code Text and Willowbrook Challenge Plan.

Click here to view the plan presented to the Board of Supervisors at their meeting of November 24, 2020 to be used in the drafting of a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment"Willow Brook Farms Mixed-Use Community Conceptual Plan for Settlement Purposes".

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is in the Preliminary Engineering Phase for the replacement of a bridge structure alogn Indian Trail Road spanning the Hokendauqua Creek.

Construction is anticipated to begin in Early 2022 and will take approximately one year.

Indian Trail Road will be closed at the project location indicated on the plans contained in the link below.

Indian Trail Road will be closed at the project location indicated while construction efforts are being performed. During Construction, access to all residential properties will be maintained.

For questions about this project, please contact: Michael Mignella P.E., Consultant Projecct Manager at 610-650-8101 or C-MMIGNELLA@PA.GOV

Click here for the Indian Trail Road Bridge Replacement Information

Please be advised that the Township has been contacted by USDA regarding the confirmation of the Spotted Lanternfly and added to the area of quarantine effective September 21st, 2017 due to the confirmed present of the invasive Spotted Lanternfly. The quarantine is an important legal designation. The quarantine order directs residents and municipal authorities to follow guidelines to prevent the movement of Spotted Lanternflies at any stage of development. This includes inspecting all wood and vegetation that might leave a quarantined municipality, in addition to inspecting vehicles, trailers, and other mobile equipment prior to moving it out of a quarantined area.

The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive that is new to the United States. Spotted Lanternflies are native to Southeast Asia, but they have been introduced to other areas of Asia as well - including Korea, where Spotted Lanterflies are a major pest to agriculture. Spotted Lanternflies are reproducing quickly in areas of southeastern Pennsylania and have become a major threat to Pennsylvania's agriculture and forestry industries.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture general quarantine imposes limitations for moving the following items from the quarantine area: * Any living life stage of the Spotted Lanternfly * Brush, debris, bark or yard waste * Landscaping, remodeling or construction waste * Logs, stumps or any tree parts * Firewood of any species * Packing materials like wood crates * All plants and plant parts * Outdoor household articles like RV's, lawnmowers, chairs, grills, tarps, tile, stone,lumber and trucks or other vehicles not stored indoors.

However, you can still move these items and similar items if you complete the Certification Checklist found at the link below. Plant nursery, mulch producers or other similar commercial enterprise should contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture regarding the necessary compliance agreement.

Current Quarantine Map.

Residents Spotted Lanternfly Certification Checklist.

Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine.

Allen Township receives police services via the Pennsylvania State Police. Our area is served by Troop M located at the Bethlehem Station located in Hanover Township, Lehigh County. Townships officials are in contact with the State Police on a regular basis and work closely to ensure our community is kept safe. In case of an emergency always dial 911. To contact the Troop M Bethlehem Station for questions or non-emergency concerns dial 610-861-2026.

The attached brochure, entitled Accessing Your State Police provides guidance regarding appropriate information to have available when and if there is a need for a resident to contact State Police. Please keep this information as well as the emergency and non-emergency information listed available at all times.