Lehigh Valley Health Network could be getting into home development

A Lehigh Valley Health Network hospital has submitted plans to develop 94 single-family homes on the Farr Tract in Lower Macungie Township.

Township planners heard the most recent proposed development plan from Lehigh Valley Hospital, property trustee. The plan calls for the subdivision at the corner of Lower Macungie Road and South Cedar Crest Boulevard, said Sara Pandl, director of planning and community development for the township.

An official from Lehigh Valley Health Network declined to provide additional details.

“We refrain from commenting on discussions and/or possible planning in the community until there is something official to announce,” said Brian Downs, LVHN spokesman, in a statement. “If and when there would be something official to announce, we would provide that information.”

He said Lehigh Valley Hospital owns the property because it was given to it by the Farrs (the late Harvey and Elsa Farr). As property trustee, it would be up to Lehigh Valley Hospital to decide how to use it, Downs said.

The Pidcock Co., an engineering firm in Salisbury Township, submitted the application and plans on behalf of Lehigh Valley Hospital, according to planning documents.

“They still have a number of issues that were identified, so they have to do some more design work and revise their plans and come back,” Pandl said. “There are a number of issues that anyone who develops it would have to address.”

These include access routes, the lack of public water infrastructure and stormwater concerns, she said. Stormwater from the site would run off through a tributary to the Little Lehigh Creek.

“Whoever develops that has to work through those challenges,” Pandl said. “We want to make sure, whatever they design, the stormwater can be handled on site.”

According to planning commission documents, the developer indicated the subdivision would be serviced by a public sewer system and a private well.

The land covers 54 acres at 2660 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. and would have access onto Cedar Crest to the east and access onto Lower Macungie Road to the south, along with one cul-de-sac street.

Source: LVB