MACUNGIE BORO., Pa. – Macungie Borough Council updated the public on a dispute involving an approved apartment development during a special meeting Monday afternoon at the Macungie Institute auditorium.
The Lumber Street development, a 49-unit apartment complex, received preliminary/final land development plan approval at council’s Sept. 8 meeting. The project calls for a two-story facility with access from two driveways on Lumber Street. That street connects Main Street (Route 100) and Lehigh Street.
At the Sept. 8 approval meeting, two Macungie residents — Brenda Decker and Wendy Horn — raised questions about a paper alley they said were referenced on their deeds. Solicitor David Keightly replied that per the county records, there is no street.
Attorney Kate Durso, representing the applicant, added that they researched it and there is no record to collaborate any paper alley. Durso added the most recently approved plan on the property also does not reference it, and just because a deed references it, that does not mean that it exists.
On Monday afternoon, solicitor Patrick Armstrong updated borough council and said there was no documentation in borough records involving any paper alley. As such, Armstrong informed the board that no action was required. No councilmembers offered any comments Monday afternoon on the matter.
Horn then made a public comment about documentation she had corroborating her previous claim about an alley. Armstrong told her to provide the borough a copy of the document and reiterated that her claim ultimately was not an issue for the borough, but rather a private property issue.
Others who spoke during a public comment session said the borough did not adequately defend residents concerning the paper alley. Some said the borough did not perform proper due diligence on the approved apartment plan before approving it. Councilmembers did not respond to these comments.
In a separate matter, council voted to table a proposed police collective bargaining agreement.