Category Archives: Smart Growth 101

Smart growth is an urban planning and transportation theory that concentrates growth in compact walkable urban centers to avoid sprawl. It also advocates compact, transit-oriented, walkable, bicycle-friendly land use, including neighborhood schools, complete streets, and mixed-use development with a range of housing choices. The term ‘smart growth’ is particularly used in North America. In Europe and particularly the UK, the terms ‘Compact City’ or ‘urban intensification’ have often been used to describe similar concepts, which have influenced government planning policies in the UK, the Netherlands and several other European countries.
Smart growth values long-range, regional considerations of sustainability over a short-term focus. Its goals are to achieve a unique sense of community and place; expand the range of transportation, employment, and housing choices; equitably distribute the costs and benefits of development; preserve and enhance natural and cultural resources; and promote public health.

Macungie Farmers Market should collaborate with LMT

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The Macungie Farmers Market is closed tomorrow for another car show. On Thursdays I usually try to take a walk over (my work is across the street) in the evening. Even if I don’t buy anything if it’s nice out I still enjoy the stroll and usually bump into someone I know. (though I usually can’t resist and end up buying something… I never regret it.)

I was thinking this morning. Lower Macungie Township currently does not have a farmers market. Other local communities do. Emmaus for one has a great one. No doubt its a great local asset.

I’m guessing but off the top of my head there are 4-5 weeks during the summer when there is no market due to car shows or other events in the park.

Wouldnt it be great if either LMT or Macungie stepped up and proposed a partnership to co-sponsor the market and for LMT to host it on weekends when Macungie Park is not available? The LMT community center is a stones throw away from Memorial Park.  I have no idea if this is feasible or if it’s something the farmers market association/borough/township would entertain. But if you’ve read my blog you know I’m a huge supporter of cooperation/sharing of resources between the boroughs of Alburtis, Macungie and LMT. (Regional police dept.) It simply geographically makes a ton of sense.

You could very easily split up the contributions made by each municipality by taking the number of weeks in the summer and dividing by the number of weeks LMT would host the market. LMT could contribute that amount for the weeks it hosts. The amount would be very very small. The market could then have a home during the weeks the park is unavailable and it would benefit from co-marketing. LMT would benefit from the co-branding. FYI Macungie borough’s contribution to the market currently is 5,000 dollars a year. A cost of less then 2 bucks per borough resident. The market also accepts donations in the form of sponsorships by local businesses. Well worth it in my opinion.

Just a thought….

 The Macungie Farmers’ Market is a producer/grower market committed to providing locally grown, fresh food; to preserving our agricultural heritage; and to building community.  The Market helps support local agriculture by connecting farmers with consumers.  This means that you buy directly from the farmers and artisans themselves, not from third parties or re-sellers. Since all vendors are producing these products for you, they can often explain best handling and preparation methods and are always willing to offer FREE advice.

Little Lehigh Watershed Association

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Little Lehigh Watershed Map

Map of the Little Lehigh Watershed

Recently an association was formed by community members with the goal of protecting the valuable Little Lehigh Creek and it’s large watershed.

Community-based citizen-run watershed associations throughout Pennsylvania, work on the local level to protect, creeks, rivers, streams and lakes. In the Lehigh Valley alone, there are nine active associations representing the majority of Lehigh and Northampton County’s watershed. These organizations:

  • Put on educational and informational workshops including topics such as rain barrels, wildlife, pollution prevention, stormwater management, and invasive plant control
  • Carry out stream bank restoration projects to protect streams from eroding banks, create fish habitat, and improve water quality
  • Monitor streams for bacteria, overall water chemistry, to help regulatory agencies manage stream health
  • Put on community outreach events at local fairs and community days
  • Do stream clean-ups to take care of illegal dumpsites and trash that collects in the streams
  • Work with local landowners on taking care of their streamside properties
  • Participate in local municipal government decisions that affect the streams in their watershed
  • Team up with government agencies, schools, local community organizations, and municipalities to ensure their watershed is protected and that community stakeholders are knowledgeable about important water quality issues.

People who participate in local watershed organizations come from all professions and backgrounds. No technical knowledge of water quality issues, or watersheds, is necessary; only an interest in becoming involved and helping to protect your local waterways.

Whether you are a teacher, an accountant, a construction worker, a homemaker, or retired, YOU can become involved in helping create a citizen-based watershed association for the Little Lehigh Creek.

Again if you are interested in learning more, please attend an initial organizational meeting to be held at 7 pm June 20 at the Seven Generations Charter School, 154 E. Main Street, Emmaus.

If you have further questions, please contact the Watershed Coalition of Lehigh Valley (WCLV).

Rebecca Kennedy – President, WCLV : (215) 939-3419
Erin Frederick – Vice President, WCLV:  (610) 965-4397 x 137

FYI’s – The Little Lehigh Creek Watershed

  •  covers 107 square miles in Lehigh & Berks counties
  •  serves as a significant source of drinking water for 135,000 people, including Allentown, Emmaus & Salisbury
  •  is home to a naturally reproducing trout population
  • provides many opportunities for hiking, biking kayaking, fishing & birding
  • is suffering from the effects of substantial residential and commercial development
  • is threatened by the introduction of non-native plant species and animal species that compete with native species, creating an unbalanced — hence, unhealthy — ecosystem
  • is on the verge of losing its unique status as a clean, urban water way if we do not become better stewards of this important resource.

*This information taken from ‘Welcome to the Little Lehigh Creek Watershed,’ an Allentown EAC publication

“Friends’ position statement on “Allen Organ” mixed use ordinance

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Board of Commissioners,

Friends for Protection of Lower Macungie Township has the following position statement regarding the proposed mixed use ordinance which the planning commission has recently recommended (unanimously) that the BOC not adopt. 

Throughout the review process, “best practices” were compromised by the developer proposing the ordinance. It became clear that this proposal was being fashioned as one specifically tailored to one this particular project. (AllenOrgan) The planning commission cited this as just one of many reasons why this ordinance should not be moved forward at this time.

The ordinance in its proposed form allows the developer to build the township’s highest residential density. Higher density can work in mixed use. However this proposal lacks the necessary qualities that counterbalance higher density and minimize the negatives such as traffic, lower quality of life and affects on the school district. (enrollment)

The ordinance should encourage or incentivize:

  • Meaningful integration of the residential and commercial zones
  • Pedestrian scale design as a comprehensive feature throughout a project
  • Incentives for a range of housing and commercial types in one neighborhood
  • Incentives for interconnected nodes and complete streets
  • Incentives for integration of open space and other public areas
  • Commercial uses that are compatible with residential uses in close proximity (24 hour operations should be considered restricted for example)
  • Additional home occupation uses allowed by right to encourage live-work uses
  • Transferable development rights – For ex. for increased density.

 We ask the Board of Commissioners (BOC) to accept the planning commission’s recommendation and to not move this ordinance forward. The Township is about to undertake a comprehensive ‘smart growth implementation plan’. We feel if the BOC chooses to move this ordinance forward, despite planning commission objection and resident concerns, the community will miss a critical opportunity to weigh in via the Urban Research and Development Corporations (URDC) plan.

Respectfully,
Friends LMT Steering Committee

Ron Beitler Kathryn Dixon Anthony Rodale
Ann Friedenheim  Sandy Beldon Percy Dougherty
Bob Rust Mark Spengler Rob Hamill
Jane Fretz Leah Papp             Scott Bieber 

What is a walkable neighborhood?

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In the coming months the LMT planning commission will take up the creation of a new mixed use ordinance. It’s my hope that this ordinance is firmly grounded in smart growth principle encouraging walk-able communities.

So what exactly does a “walk-able” neighborhood mean? This short 4 minute video is an excellent introduction to the concept.

The goal is to encourage pedestrian-centric vs. a typical automobile centric design. Think classic neighborhoods you can live, work and walk to many services.

We are a automobile society. Thats a fact that isn’t changing. But more often people are interested in having the option to walk. We have tons of “big box” commercial in the township with more on the way. And this is not bad inmoderation. Personally, I’m excited for Hamilton Crossings (Target)! This won’t be typical “big box.” Our planners did a great job ensuring the character is more “lifestyle center.” But the point is, we’re approaching the tipping point of “the right mix.”

Do we want the “right mix” or do we want to become MacArthur Road? This mixed use ordinance can be a big part of our future. Here are the basic principles that make a neighborhood walk-able:

  • A complimentary mix of uses that integrate with one another. This is essential and includes not only a mix across the parcel but mixed use buildings. Think “Main st. USA” vs. sprawl. The goal is matching the character of historic villages and borough’s creating a pleasant live-able community.
  • Encouraging walk-able streetscapes and complete streets. In newer suburbs likes ours it’s difficult to walk from place to place. Pedestrians who attempt to are forced to dodge cars and walk through parking lots. To create a friendlier, attractive, more walkable landscape, a mixed use district requires small-scale commercial buildings with frontage facing streets. Additionaly, garages and parking areas must be located to the side and rear. Also streets must be deisgned to be complete. We’re currently participating in a study of the rt. 222 corridor on how to make it a more “complete street,” featuring walk-able characteristics. Sara Paindl (Lower Macungie Director of Planning) and our planners deserve much praise for facilitating this!
  • Central open space providing active recreation areas, focal points for the community, and saving environmental features. A good mixed use district should requires at least 20 percent open space, preferably located centrally, in village greens and other types of central open space.

Ask yourself a simple question. What do you want LMT to be? Like every other sprawling area or do you want it to be exceptional? I grew up here. Long gone in many parts of the township is the rural character I grew up with and loved. I’ll fight to preserve what can and should be preserved. (Jaindl and warehouses)  But I’m equally excited for what has to be developed to be done so in an planned way.

The great thing about this sort of planning is it is not theoretical. It’s being successfully developed nearby. Here are a few great local examples:

Woodmont, Lower Moreland – Montgomery County – 49 acre tract
Sunnybrook Village, Lower Pottsgrove – Montgomery County – 52 acre tract

Storm water is treated at new Penns Meadow Basin

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Map of the Stormwater Basin at Saurkraut and Willow!

Ever wonder what’s going on with the stormwater area at Willow and Saurkraut lanes where the trees were planted and ponds created? Most recently some final touches have been added with the installation of mulch paths.

This project represents a complete conversion of previous ‘dry’ detention basin into a ‘wet’treatment basin. Wet basins are artificial ponds with vegetation around the perimeter.

Dry basins do not do a very good job of treating stormwater. They only  temporarily store the water after it rains and eventually discharge the bulk of the flow into the Little Lehigh.

‘Wet ponds’ have two main benefits.

They are much more effective at slowing flow (decreasing flooding) and filtering pollutants. In addition, there are also long term savings in maintenance. The basin is only mowed once a year to prevent trees and shrubs from establishing in the areas intended to be meadows. The upper portion of the project has been planted with 150 native trees to create two woodland areas.

The whole project has a path system where students from Willow Lane Elementary School can learn about ecology in a living classroom. The retrofitted basin becomes a park-like setting and woodland for habitat and passive recreation whereas dry basins are large sterile areas often fenced off needing mowing throughout the summer and often treated with herbicides.

Here is a brief description of the system that was installed at Penns Meadow: (see picture)

There are three points where stormwater from Penns Meadow flows into the basin. Through various systems this water is filtered and the flow rate slowed.

For example, from the second input water flows into a forebay and then through a constructed wetland area and finally to the wet pond. The entire basin is fitted with an impermeable liner so unless there is a major storm event, all water that enters the basin is either is used by vegetation or evaporates. Only in extreme rain events does water flow to the Little Lehigh and even in these cases it is better filtered and slowed then in dry basins.

This is a fantastic and much needed project in our township. The Environmental Action Council would like to see more retrofits of sterile dry basins. In the upcoming review of our comprehensive plan the BOC and planning commission need to incorporate more best management practices for future developments instead of large sterile basins that require mowing and herbicides.

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The Lower Macungie Township Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) held a invasive plant removal event last Saturday at the township Krazter Farm Property on Willow Lane. I stopped by to check it out and learn about the project from EAC Chair Scott Alderfer.

Scott led Scouts and parents from Troop 131 of Wescosville targeting invasive species and replacing them with native plants. Invasive species rapidly spread and outcompete natives. Native species that were planted include winterberry holly, viburnum, spice bush, christmas ferns and mayapple.

The Kratzer Farm is 86 acres located primarily in East Texas bounded by Willow Lane and Lower Macungie Road. The township has owned the property for 15 years. It currently rents much of the the agriculture portion to farmers on 5 year leases. The very successful community garden program is also located on the property. The portion where the Little Lehigh crosses through the farm is a popular fishing spot. In the future according to the master plan the township greenway trail could potentially run through the farm and may include a loop around the property.

EAC and the Boy Scout troop 131 teamed up to tackle invasive species in LMT Credit Ron Beitler

According to Alderfer, the EAC applied for and recieved a 500 dollar matching grant to pay for the costs of the native plants. The EAC is an appointed board of volunteers that makes recommendations to our Board of Commissioners. They are provided a small budget which is used for project implementation and community education.

The EAC has a free educational event coming up this Thursday.  Here’s the link to the flyer.http://www.lowermac.com/library/file/TEMP/EAC Residential Tree Care Event.pdf

For more information about the EAC visit here.
To learn more about the Kratzter Farm.

Smart Growth Alternative to Warehouses on Prime Farmland

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I’m outspoken in my criticism of the township supporting warehouse development.

My reasons are many. This type of development represents more unsustainable growth for our suburban township. It affects our quality of life (tractor trailer traffic on local residential roads not designed to handle it), and it’s the least environmentally friendly development possible considering paving over of regionally significant farmland.

I’ve been asked before a very valid question. If not here then where? Came across an article today that shows in practice what has been my reponse. We have significant brownfields locally. The old Mack Truck plant in Allentown and remaining Steel property in Bethlehem are examples.This is where distribution centers and warehouses belong. What’s best for the region? Not what puts the most money in certain developers pockets.

A great example of Brownfield redevelopment locally, the planned Majestic distribution hub located near the Hellertown exit of Rt. 78 is an excellent example of where this type of development should be encouraged. This is a great project for not only Bethlehem but the entire region.

Description:

Majestic Distribution Hub – 800,000 foot facility on undeveloped former Bethlehem Steel property. This area has existing infrastructure already well on the way to being able to handle increased truck traffic.

Some of the major benefits of building on this existing brownfield:

  • Adaptive reuse of a former industrial facility from a previous era. Great example of smart growth principle in practice.
  • The ideal location next to the intermodel cuts down on drayage.
  • Direct access to I-78.
  • The building will have LEED & US-EPA Smartway Transport Design certification.
  • Direct accessibility and access to labor. This is where jobs are needed!
    • According to the NJ Institute of Technology, executives interviewed note increasing difficulties in recruiting and retaining workforces for facilities. Brownfield sites provide better access to labor markets because of location. Brownfield sites tend to be located in more developed, urbanized locations, with greater access to the region’s transit system and labor pools