Green Pond development scheduled for January 25

Special to The Bird House

It's been six months since there was a public airing of the proposed housing development near Green Pond Marsh, but that will change on Monday, January 25.

The Bethlehem Township Planning Commission is scheduled to review a scaled-back plan for a retirement community adjoining an Important Birding Site identified by the National Audubon Society.

Traditions of America plans to reduce the number of townhouses to 229 from 261. According to a report from blogger Bernie O'Hare, a larger buffer space has been created around the wetlands, which is located in the northwest corner of the site.

The designation "Important Bird Area" means a site should be protected as a special habitat for birds. Over the years, 182 different bird species have been sighted at the marsh. Many of them are migrants that use the wetlands as a stopping-off point during their long-distance journeys. Eight of the species are either endangered or threatened in Pennsylvania.

Traditions of America is asking the township planning commission to ratify all waivers and deferrals, which would bring the project substantially closer to construction.

It has been 18 months since Traditions of America came before township officials for permission to build high-end housing for people aged 55 and older. Engineers and planners have been evaluating aspects of the project, including traffic problems, residential flooding and environmental impacts. Apparently the project has undergone several modifications since the original unveiling.

In his blog, Lehigh Valley Ramblings, O'Hare says the main entrance to the housing development has been changed from Farmersville Road to Green Pond Road. The clubhouse has been relocated to the northern part of the development. The blog did not identify how much additional acres would be allocated to open space.

The group Save Green Pond has been trying to gain public support for protecting the marsh as an undisturbed wetland. Even relatively minor changes to the landscape, such has the resurfacing of Green Pond Road, has modified the bird and aquatic environment, the group points out.

Critics of the project worry that building a housing development so close to the marsh will create even greater damage to the sensitive environmental area.

The planning commission is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. at the township building, which is located at 4225 Easton Avenue. The meeting is open to the public, including those who don't live in the township.