Housing development at Green Pond Marsh advances

A proposal to build a housing project adjacent to Green Pond Marsh has moved ever so slightly toward a final decision.

The Bethlehem Township Planning Commission has approved six relatively minor waivers and deferrals from township regulations for the housing plan proposed by Traditions of America, a developer of housing communities for people age 55 and older.

TOA has a way to go before it can gain final approval for the development, which would affect bird life in and around the marsh.

The National Audubon Society has designated Green Pond Marsh as an Important Bird Area. More than 180 birds have been sighted at the wetlands, including eight that are identified as endangered or threatened in Pennsylvania. Many of the birds that visit the marsh are species that depend on the site for food, water and shelter during migration.

Last Monday, TOA presented revised plans that would reduce the number of houses to 229 from 261 and would expand the amount of open space within the project, according to blogger Bernie O'Hare, who reported on the planning commission's meeting for his Lehigh Valley Ramblings blog.

According to O'Hare's report, the township planning commission was given a sweetener and a warning.

On the one hand, a partner in TOA emphasized that the development would reap $843,500 in recreation and real estate transfer fees for the township and another $250,000 in annual property taxes. The Bethlehem Area School District would receive $1.9 million in property taxes.

On the other hand, an attorney for Green Pond Country Club warned that the golf club might consider selling its land for residential development if the TOA project is not approved.

The country club owns the land on which the TOA project would be built. By selling the land to TOA, the club's shareholders would profit. The TOA project is being billed as a golf course community. The TOA site is across Farmersville Road from the golf course. The shareholders also would benefit by getting new customers.

A full report from O'Hare's blog appears here.

In a separate report, O'Hare said at least six stockholders in the golf club are from the Lehigh Valley. The remainder live outside the area. That information appears here.