Hundreds of New Homes on the Horizon: Upper Macungie Reviews Two Key Developments

The spotlight was firmly on the future of housing in Upper Macungie Township this past Wednesday. A meeting held by the Upper Macungie Township Planning Commission served as a forum for in-depth discussions between officials and D.R. Horton, the developer overseeing two significant housing projects: Sunset Orchards and Twin Ponds.

Originally presented to the planning board in March, the Sunset Orchards project reemerged, this time with project manager Steve McBrearty soliciting the commission’s opinions on a variety of elements. These ranged from the general layout of the development to the specifics of roadway frontages. Sunset Orchards, located at the intersection of Schantz and Ruppsville Road, has plans for 126 twin-style homes alongside 85 townhome units.

Local residents, who had previously voiced concerns about the increased traffic and potential safety risks to school-going children, once again made their apprehensions known. A key topic of conversation was the classification of “Road A”—the main artery of the development—as either a public or private roadway. While making it a public road could complicate matters due to existing parking ordinances, McBrearty suggested a possible workaround: widening the road to be in compliance.

Vice Chairman Paul McNemar showed some skepticism, but he was reassured by John Toner, the Township Planning & Zoning Administrative Specialist. Toner stated, “They are capable of meeting the parking requirements on their parking lots and within their driveways.”

Moreover, residents were particularly vocal about their desire for ample buffers between properties to maintain privacy. Andy Snyder, a local resident, questioned the elevation of the homes and the type of landscaping measures that would be put in place to ensure seclusion. McBrearty assured that berms would be built to guarantee each resident’s privacy. Despite these extensive discussions, the commission did not reach any official conclusions regarding Sunset Orchards.

The second project under D.R. Horton’s belt, Twin Ponds, was also on the agenda. Situated at 8739 Hamilton Blvd., the project envisions 132 apartment units and a daycare facility. The layout would be framed by Hamilton Boulevard, Treeline Drive, and Twin Ponds Road, and would introduce a newly proposed road, Lily Lane.

The commission had a hefty list of 14 waivers submitted by D.R. Horton to consider, touching on subjects such as underground utilities and the spacing between street trees. Notably, there was a disagreement concerning the sidewalk along Hamilton Boulevard. This led the commission to defer this specific waiver, along with three others, to their next workshop session for a more comprehensive discussion. Nine of the waivers were approved, while four were dismissed by the developer.

In all, the meeting was a critical step in shaping the future landscape of Upper Macungie Township, even though official actions are yet to be taken.