Plan allows sewer line to Jaindl land in Lower Macungie

Lower Macungie commissioners on Thursday approved a plan that will allow Jaindl Land Co. to run a sewer line to hundreds of acres it intends to develop in the western part of the township.

The plan also requires residents to pump out their on-lot septic systems every five years.

The board took public comments and residents may submit written comments until June 7.

The plan, which revises the official township sewer plan, calls for expansion of public sewer to the area where Jaindl wants to develop about 600 acres of farmland. Jaindl's land is bounded by Smith Lane and Mertztown, Spring Creek and Ruth roads. Commissioners approved the subdivision this month.

Jaindl could develop up to 4 million square feet of warehouses, 692 residential units, a 443,000-square-foot shopping center, a convenience store with gas pumps, and a restaurant. David Jaindl has said he would not develop to the maximum extent he's allowed.

Some residents feared extension of the sewer would come at the expense of taxpayers or that homeowners would have to connect if the line runs past their property. Commissioners quelled both fears Thursday.

Township engineer William Erdman said Jaindl would pay to install the sewer line. While the township has an ordinance that allows commissioners to require property owners to connect when a sewer line is run within 150 feet of their home or business, the board has never done that.

"We have no reason to come in and ask anybody to connect that isn't interested in doing so at this point," township planner Sara Pandl said.

Resident Rob Hamill urged commissioners not to approve the plan, saying the sewer system is overloaded as it is and there is no more capacity.

"We're treating the Little Lehigh [Creek] as a public sewer," Hamill said.

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Plan allows sewer line to Jaindl land in Lower Macungie