Last week we had a request from a resident to consider a resolution in support of gerrymandering reform legislation. Specifically, one that supports a citizens commission for legislative redistricting. This is similar to a request made in front of Lehigh County a few weeks ago. County Commissioners passed a resolution in favor. Here is the article. Whitehall Township also is considering similar a resolution.

Pennsylvania is one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation. Gerrymandering is when politicians draw the borders of their own voting districts to protect  and give unfair advantages to incumbents. When this happens, instead of voters choosing their elected officials, politicians choose their voters. Because of this many districts are no longer competitive. Each year a growing number of candidates run unopposed. Voters in those districts no longer have a choice. Because of this partisan hackery, gridlock in Harrisburg gets worse and worse.

Here is a video from Fairdistricts PA which overviews the problem.

I have written about this problem many times on this blog and I 100% support the request to draft and pass a resolution strongly urging elected officials in Harrisburg to tackle the problem. This is a basic and essential good government reform. 

The fair question here is why should a local municipality take the time to draft and pass a non-binding resolution? Well for one thing this kind of advocacy is actually outlined as one of our responsibilities in the Township Commissioner Handbook.

“The commissioners’ role as a legislator is not confined to enacting township laws. Elected officials represent the township and are expected to be concerned with and at times, attempt to influence state legislation affecting their municipality. The General Assembly considers legislation affecting all townships, all local governments in Pennsylvania and each individual municipality or region.

Here is the 134th as it’s drawn. Believe it or not, this meandering district is actually not one of the worse. .

So we definitely should have concerns for local townships who want most effective advocacy from our state officials. The 134th right now is pretty spread out, but again nowhere near the worse example. However this can always change if state parties decide they want to arbitrarily protect an incumbent for political gain.

The system today is political instead of objective. As a local elected official we have an obligation to be concerned with and at times, attempt to influence state legislation affecting or potentially affecting our municipality. The best way we can accomplish this it is to pass a formal resolution and urge Senator Pat Browne and Rep. Ryan Mackenzie to both support (or continue to support) bi-partisan redistricting reform. Browne and two other area State Senators representing the Lehigh Valley already do. Lisa Boscola  (D) (representing Emmaus) is a prime sponsor. Pat Browne (R) (representing Lower Mac)  and Mario Scavello (R have joined as co-sponsors. Browne chairs the powerful Appropriations Committee, and is one of the most influential legislators in the state. Very important as a township that we support him and others in this good government reform effort.

I’m going to answer or give my opinions on a bunch of comments I got on the poll I conducted last week about the proposed fee for state police. See the results here. One item I wanted to address right away. It deals with the notion that State Police do not enforce local truck restrictions.

This is not true.  They do enforce local truck restrictions. From Trooper Nederostak who is the townships primary liaison to the PSP – “Under section 6121 of Title 75, PA Vehicle Code, PSP is authorized to enforce any signage the township erects so long as it is an approved Traffic Control Device.  Approved Traffic Control Devises are listed in a Federal Regulation titled “Manual on Uniform Traffic-Control Devices for Streets and Highways.”  In essence, as long as you are putting up an approved sign, we absolutely enforce it.” 

They also respond to the townships guidance in terms of where trouble spots are. We also notify them of any new restriction. Most recently, Quarry, Creamery and Schoeneck Roads. In the near future Spring Creek and Trexlertown Rd. In other words we have an excellent and responsive working relationship.

Bottom line is PSP can and do enforce. They frequently patrol numerous truck trouble spots in the township. The problem as I see it is that enforcement alone isn’t the answer. And this is no matter who our provider is. Our issues relate to the fact that warehouses were allowed to be built (by prior boards) in horrible locations. To address the issue with enforcement would requirement officers in multiple locations 24 hours a day 7 days a week. That’s just not reasonable – again, whether we use the state police or would have a local or regional police force. I believe we could spend the many millions of dollars on a local force and most residents would not notice much of a change. The state police do an excellent job.

Now the fundamental question of whether it’s fair or not is valid. But as long as we have them (paying for them or not) they do an excellent job. And as stated above they DO enforce local truck restrictions. 

Over the last week I conducted a poll on my Facebook page about police services and the proposed fee being considered by the Governor and others. I use Facebook polls because  the software limits votes to one per person. With it I can also reasonably check that folks who say they live in the township do. So while not scientific it’s a decent snapshot.

Here are the results:

100 people answered poll about state police over the last week. 95 were township residents.

Of township respondents 57% felt the state police provided excellent service (ranked 5 or 4, 5 being the highest). 14% felt the state police were offering a poor level of service.

 

5 = Excellent level of service 1 = Poor level of service (Adds up to 92 since 5 respondents were from outside the township and 3 township respondents didn’t answer this question)

This project is not in Lower Mac but it’s of interest for a number of reasons. First, this directly deals with the proposed Adams Rd. interchange.  And second, since it shows a demand for smaller (but still very highly impactful) warehouses. Something other communities should monitor carefully. Even though each individual unit is small, the cumulative impact of having a number of them built on the same corridor is still significant. Something to watch closely. We should anticipate the same demand in Lower Mac and plan accordingly. When land becomes sparser for the mega facilities we have to be careful we don’t start getting these types projects.

This demonstrates why it’s important to not only pay close attention to what’s going on in our community but also our neighbors. Here is some newspaper coverage. 

The sketch referred to in the article wasn’t included in any of the articles so I went down to the Upper Mac township building filled out a quick right to know form and got a copy.  (see below) I want to say, this only took a few minutes. And the front desk lady was extremely nice and helpful.

There are a couple things to note:
1.) Adams Rd. interchange. This signals what many felt was going to be a problem. The new 30 million interchange is being proposed as an “outlet valve” to address existing traffic issues. This will certainly be paid for with state and federal dollars. The issue becomes if the area around the proposed new interchange is allowed to be built up with additional high impact uses we end up with the same problems. This cycle is called induced demand. And it’s a concern. The Adams Rd. interchange is a regionally important project. It’s on Upper Macungie to make sure it functions as it’s intended by influencing what gets built near it. That is to make sure it fixes existing issues. Not to induce more high impact projects. We want to solve the problem. Not create a whole host of new problems.

2.) This is not a good plan. Uninspiring. Encroaches on the Village of Fogelsville. Very heavy traffic generation. Highly impactful. That being said, this area is zoned for development. So the question isn’t stopping growth, it’s what eventually gets built. My opinion is what would work very nicely here is a traditional neighborhood development residential project. An excellent low impact neighborhood friendly fit for the area. Think of it as a project that would expand and compliment the existing character of Fogelsville instead of encroaching onto and straining it. Assume something will be built here. The question is what?

I’m very interested how conversations are going with Upper Mac planners and the development team. This isn’t in Lower Mac. But the Adams Rd. interchange and development that happens around it will impact us. 

Not going to do a full agenda preview in the same format as usual. There just aren’t that many action items tonight. Here is a link to the agenda.

Just a couple notes:
1.) We got word that a brake retarder prohibition was approved by PennDOT on Trexlertown Rd. and Spring Creek. Now the question I’m sure we’ll get is: “Well, aren’t those roads now restricted to trucks anyway?” Good question. The answer is yes, but only to trucks greater than 28 ft long. (I have to check to make sure that’s the length) That means other small trucks that still might be equipped with brake retarders (like say a dump truck) could still use the roads. And therefore the restriction would apply. So this is good news. We will post this restriction in the next few weeks and let the PSP know so they can enforce. 

2.) There is a land development hearing for a Mack Trucks expansion. Very happy to work with one of our biggest employers. Even though Mack is on a cyclical downturn now we’re helping them prepare for the next up-turn. The operation will be much more efficient because of these plant upgrades. This is a good plan. I support it. 

That’s really all there is that’s either new or action item for tonight. Since this is an abbreviated preview then what I normally do just let me know if you have any questions on anything not mentioned. Ronbeitler@gmail.com

-RB

I like to say Lower Macungie Twp. is open for business. But with two caveats. 
1.) Developers bring your ‘A’ game. 
2.) Look to build your projects in the appropriate places as identified by our comprehensive plans and voluntarily buy into our vision for high quality development. 

Yes, Lower Macungie is interested in preserving farmland. And to that end we’ve outlined an aggressive strategy over the last 3 years. We’ve successfully preserved nearly 300 acres of farmland and open space. Other targets are outlined on our official map. The map gives us the ability to make offers (at appraised value) on land before it’s developed. It’s our intention to do that on many of our large remaining greenfield properties. Voters stated loud and clear last 2 elections this was the priority.

So where does that leave us to build out? The answer is the Hamilton Blvd. corridor. Primarily this means redevelopment and infill projects. This is a corridor where taxpayers have already made key investments in infrastructure and now seek to cash in on them. The corridor is already well positioned close to shopping options, near existing access to major regional roadways and job centers. This is where additional traffic can be handled with good planning and the impacts managed.

What does this mean? Developers, landowners and builders – come to us with your high quality and unique ideas. We’re done with cookie cutter slop. Come to us with high quality purpose built structures. Not spec designs. Innovative plans. And high quality design.

Hamilton is going to be the townships bread-basket. A high quality and value, walkable, bike-able pedestrian friendly and aesthetically pleasing Boulevard. (Not Macarthur Rd.) I think we’re close to done with the major shopping centers. Our township has our fill.

Ready to build on the Boulevard? Here are 5 rules of thumb. 

Rule number 1. First and foremost respect the Historic Hamilton Tree Colonnade. Embrace it as the asset that it is. Work within it, not against it. Where gaps exist plan on replanting.

We will fight to preserve our historic Sycamore trees. They are the defining feature of the Boulevard and a local heritage treasure.

Rule number 2. Come with unique proposals. High quality purpose built ideas and plans. Let’s innovate to create unique people oriented places. 

Let’s get creative. Think outside the box. Something like this? Let’s talk. Our zoning code is in place to protect us from bad projects. Have a cool idea? We will work with you. Most important of all make your projects unique.

OR THIS:

This commercial building is built on a human scale. Aesthetically pleasing with lots of lush landscaping.

NOT THIS:

No. Just no. Generic, monoculture, bland. Low value. Non-existent landscaping. Even if this was “dolled up” with some say stone veneers or some other lipstick, this pig is exactly the built form we want to avoid. (and why we recently reduced our front yard setback requirements) Put the parking to the side and rear. Our Boulevard will not be defined by parking lots.

Rule number 3 – Exceed our ordinance with landscaping. The ordinance represents the bare minimum. We want to attract developers willing to exceed the bare minimum.
DO THIS:

Planting strips and shade trees reduce heat, improve stormwater quality, and beautify retail areas, especially when designed as naturalized infiltration areas. The ordinance is the bear minimum required. Do you want to just meet the bare minimum? Or do you want to help us build a special place.

AND THIS.

Soften your buildings with four season landscaping.

OR THIS

Rule number 4 – Right size your signage.
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID IN ONE PICTURE.

This picture represents what I like to call a “sign arms race”.  A total planning failure. In this picture it’s all about who can be gaudiest, highest and brightest. Our boulevard will be property scaled. Because of this visibility will be very high. You do not need to build the biggest signs.

MAKE YOUR MONUMENT SIGN VERY ATTRACTIVE. After all, why wouldn’t you? This is your chance to show off your business. 

Our ordinance now requires monument signs. (which really it’s silly to build a pylon anyhow since required street trees will block your sign eventually). Monument signs offer maximum visibility and reduce sign clutter and pollution.

Get creative. This sign is perfectly scaled, attractive and context sensitive. This is a high end salon and their sign reinforces that. This business is on the Boulevard today. A fantastic partner. And the benchmark for quality.

Rule number 5 – Keep your parking to the side or the rear. High quality architecture should be the defining feature. Not a sea of asphalt.

With this bank the attractive building is the defining feature. Not the asphalt of a parking lot. Plenty of parking. (and a drive through!) But it’s located in the rear. Keep the drive thru’s hidden.

DON’T DO THIS

NO. Just no.

If you must have parking in front of buildings, be prepared to screen the headlights.

Street trees, screened parking. Great orientation. This is a Main Street feel. Not a commercial strip feel.

Over the last 5 years we’ve had some good projects and some not so good projects built. Without really calling out the dogs, I’d rather focus on the good stuff. Here is an example of a nice infill project that fits the vision.
-Infill & redevelopment project (as opposed to greenfield)
-Walkability
-Context sensitive
-Attractive high quality design
-Low impact

Aside from the pole sign which is far too tall and will someday be obscured by street trees (a monument would have been much more visible and attractive) This project was an excellent addition to the Boulevard. Attractive design, bulk of the parking in the rear, walkability, a second story adds appraised value and increases ROI. Overall a great project.

Though not built in Lower Mac, this is the blueprint for the Boulevard. It was project built on Main Street in Hellertown recently.

These are some baselines. Our township ordinances represent bare min requirements for health, safety and design. But why would you want to just simply meet the bare minimum? We’re not so much interested in regulating quality as we our encouraging it. In fact we’ve worked hard to reduce un-necessary regulations that acted as barriers to good projects. We’ve right sized parking requirements by reducing excessive parking requirements, reduced front yard setbacks, created an expedited review process for small projects. All these moves were made to encourage excellent projects.

End the day to do that we need developers/builders who buy into what we want the Boulevard to become. If you share our vision take a look at what our township has to offer.

What are our guiding documents and where can you find them? 
Township official map – Where we want to preserve.
The Hamilton Corridor Study – Where and how we want to build out.

Though exceedingly frustrating the East Penn School District did not give the township the opportunity to consider purchasing the property before selling it off to a developer (the value being the land, and opportunity to align Krocks and Spring Creek Rd., which we would have definitely pursued.), it was very nice of them to let the Lower Macungie Twp. Historical Society take one last look around to document. I went with them in the building today.

I attended LMES for 4 years. Kindergarten through 3rd grade (1986-1989.) First time inside the building in a very long time. Lots of memories. The society took many pictures, below are a few I snapped. You will be able to see more at some point the future at the Lower Macungie Township History Museum. It’s currently being built in the newly renovated Camp Olympic barn.

The old school is sold and will be demolished. A memory care center will be built in it’s place. Could start as early as next week.

When I attended LMES the “Main entrance” was in the back of the building up a set of stairs. This sign greeted guests. This might be a new one since I attended.

The Main Entrance in the back of the building. The “front door” you see from Lower Mac Rd. was only used for fire drills when I attended.

At some point after my years this mural was added near the Main entrance in what was the Kindergarten Classrooms when I went here. Does anyone know any information about this mural? Who painted and what time period?

My Kindergarten classroom. “Afternoon Shelly”.

The Main Corridor which was basically the only corridor. The classrooms all have color themes that match the doors.

One of a few plaques in the stairwell to the basement. This one commemorating (I’m guessing) The original playground equipment. A gift from the East Texas Summer School Association.

The Multipurpose space. A center of activity. Gym/stage/cafeteria. My most vivid memory from here was a few times year in gym class there would be setup a giant indoor play structure. I remember it taking up (what seemed like) the whole gym. The teacher was Mr. Seip who was the high school swimming coach I think.

Very small hallway downstairs. The lunch line area was to the left. Beyond that boiler room. Up the stairs and to the right was a school store when I went. You could buy your “wolves” gear. We were wolves, Wescosville was (is?) Owls. They still are right?

The historical society grabbed this mat that was at the (true) front door for the township historical museum they are currently building to be housed at the newly renovated Camp Olympic barn.

Was pretty amazing to think that basically the entire building administration (that I can remember) was in very tiny office suite. I mean really, really small. Basically one room with two carved out areas. I imagine one for the Principal. One for guidance counselor. Anyone remember who was in the offices in the late 80’s? I don’t recall who the principal was.

So everyones favorite teacher when I went was Mr. Kovalovich or “Mr. K”. I had him for third grade. And I’m 90% sure this was the entrance to his room. It was a corner room.

Remember these?

Lockers were all in the individual classrooms.

The “nerve center” in the Main office. An intercom system was to the left I believe.

Years after I left LMES when I was in Jr. high (Eyer) and High School since I lived in nearby in East Texas  I spent many, many days on this basketball court playing roller hockey with friends. This was the home of the “Shepherd Hills Swamp Monkeys. ” We played Ice Hockey on a frozen pond nearby in winter on the Golf Course.

The playground. Updated since I went. What I most remember from elementary school recess was 1.) Boxball, 2) playing Thundercats with a guy who is still today one of my best friends (and business partner) and 3.) obsessing over a large rock under a tree we called the “secret rock”. LOL

See more photos of the Elementary School and learn more about all kinds of Lower Macungie Twp. History at the soon to be opened Lower Macungie History Museum at Camp Olympic.

I just wanted to wear my boyscout uniform for this LMES picture day. 🙂

I recently filed the paperwork to establish a re-election committee. Later this week I’ll take care of the formality of an announcement. I would like the opportunity to serve one more term. If I get one (voters will determine that) I’ll say that’s probably it. The reason is because I believe very strongly in term limits for paid elected officials. Serving shouldn’t be looked to as a career. My job is my small business. Now, local municipal government is not a full time paid position but in general many of the same rationale for limits still apply. 

Related, I’ve decided to cap donations at 75 dollars for any single person, entity or PAC. There was quite a bit of PAC money infused into the first election I ran. The incumbents were flush with out of town special interest money that actually funded television commercials. Un-precedented in a local election. I often write in this space that money in politics is one of the biggest issues we face as a Democracy. My opponents had they won at worse would have been totally beholden to those interests. At best the perception would have still existed. So again, I’ll put my money (or rather access to money) where my mouth is. No person, entity or PAC can donate more than 75 dollars this cycle to my campaign. This is a self imposed limit. Had I done this last time I would have left a few large donations on the table. Nonetheless, right thing to do. For ethical folks money does not equal influence. Problem is often even the perception that it does is damaging.

Additionally, I am eliminating robo calls from any campaign strategy. Frankly, they are annoying. Also, again I’ll limit the amount of signs I place in public domains. A few key high visibility spots sure, but probably no more than 12 in public locations across the entire township. Instead I’ll focus on getting the majority of my signs out on private property if people are willing to host one. When you see my sign, it means that person or business is a supporter. A sign on private property or a business is alot more meaningful I think to voters than littering the landscape.

Will you be willing to host a sign in your yard in April? Email me at Ronbeitler@gmail.com

As with last time I will hit doors. Hard. As many as time allows.

Final quick note when I ran and hit doors the first time I told folks I wouldn’t be a stranger in the years between elections. I was thinking about that today as I read a couple old blog posts.  I think I accomplished that. I tried to be extremely accessible. I conducted 6 town hall meetings in individual neighborhoods over the last year alone. (Graymoor, Shepherd Hills, Hills at Lockridge, Wild Cherry Knoll, Lamplighter Village and Harvest Fields.) They were well attended by about 200 people in total.  Before that I periodically walked neighborhoods just for the heck of it. To chat and see what was going on and what people thought about certain issues. This is also why I maintain this blog and try to consistently make meaningful posts on my social media.

Will you consider making a donation of any amount up to $75.00 max? If so, you can via Paypal here. Any amount is appreciated.
Or you can mail checks to:
Elect Ron Beitler
5540 Lower Macungie Rd.
Macungie, PA 18062

Thank you.