The developer Traditions of America won a step toward building a 261-unit gated housing community along Green Pond Marsh.
The Bethlehem Township Planning Commission this week waived several township planning regulations after hearing from its engineer. The issues dealt with the width of roads, speed limits, sidewalks and curbing.
The development plan remains in its preliminary stages. The township is awaiting the results of its own environmental assessment of the project and an evaluation of storm water and traffic concerns. An investigation of into a possible Native American settlement at the site may also be required.
The plan must meet muster with several federal and state agencies that deal with environmental concerns.
A full report of the planning commission's actions are available at Bernie O'Hare's blog, Lehigh Valley Ramblings.
(You also might wish to read an essay written by a Bethlehem Township resident about Green Pond Marsh. The essay appears in Mr. O'Hare's blog, which recently won a Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association award for his coverage of Green Pond Marsh.)
Traditions of America, based in Radnor, wants to build a $108 million gated housing development that caters to affluent singles and couples age 55 and older.
The 119-acre tract includes Green Pond Marsh, a National Audubon Society-designated Important Bird Site where 162 different species of birds have been seen over the years, many of them migratory and eight that are endangered or threatened in Pennsylvania.
The developer promises not to build in the marsh but opponents of the project are skeptical. They question whether runoff from the housing complex would harm the wetlands and compromise bird life. Details are available here and here.
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