Developer, neighbors clash over senior facility plan
Some that live nearby say safety, loss of green space is a concern
To hear Abe Atiyeh tell it, his plans for a senior living facility on the border of Lower Macungie and South Whitehall townships could be a blessing for the township.
But residents who live around the cornfield of the proposed Macungie Manor on 900 South Hillview Road are worried those plans could be more of a curse.
Atiyeh’s Pennsylvania Venture Capital has submitted plans to both townships for a senior care campus on a 14.9-acre tract. The plans call for two, three-story, 86-unit buildings (one for independent living and one for personal care) and a clubhouse on the Lower Macungie side. They also call for a single-story, 100-bed building for residents with higher needs in South Whitehall. The plans come together as a campus with open space and walking trails behind it.
In Lower Macungie, the plans are allowed as a conditional use. His conditional use application went before the township planning commission on Sept. 8, and planners decided to delay a decision until traffic and other studies could be done.
The plans went before South Whitehall’s planning commission on Thursday. There, the property would need to be rezoned to allow for a denser residential use. Planners first want to review the township’s comprehensive plan, something that should happen in the next few months.
“Zoning this to a more dense zone ... at this time I don’t feel is appropriate and because we’re in the middle of a comp plan review,” said planning Commissioner Diane Kelly.
At the meeting, Atiyeh said that waiting for the comprehensive plan could make him walk away from the project. On Friday, he said it wouldn’t be a deal breaker and he could move forward with the Lower Macungie portion while waiting for the South Whitehall comprehensive plan.
Neighbors living around the site spoke and posted messages in a meeting chat. They said they were concerned about the impact on traffic and wildlife, safety, and a decline in home values. If the parcel were rezoned, the zoning would hold even if the project changed.
Nicole and Nick Amicucci posted that they oppose the rezoning because of concerns about increased traffic, congestion, safety and crime.
“Wehave small children and I have so many safety concerns,” they wrote. “We bought our home because of the neighborhood and the care homeowners take in their properties.
This will also take away so much beautiful green space in the neighborhood, and it will decrease the value of our home.”
Atiyeh said the neighbors would complain no matter what he decided to put on the parcel, but said he’d buffer the site as much as possible.
“The neighbors are upset right now because we’re building a three-story building when they have a two-story building,” he said. “They have a right to grieve, but we’re the best use you could ever think you’d want to be on
this particular location and we’re taking care of the elderly.”
Atiyeh and neighbors went back and forth during the meeting, which stretched on past 11 p.m.
At one point, Atiyeh said some of the neighbors who complained about his Bethlehem facility before it was approved ended up wanting to put their parents there.
“How can you complain about residential traffic and people coming into the building that take care of elderly? You have a right to complain, but I think you’re all getting out of hand and it’s ridiculous,” Atiyeh said.
Neighbor Karl Mabry called the comparison “very disingenuous,” saying there was a difference between the Bethlehem project, which took place on already developed land, and this one.
“We do care about the elderly, but there will be a traffic impact and you’re obviously not very familiar with the roads,” he said. “To imply we don’t care about the elderly is very insulting.”
“No, you don’t. This is your neighborhood,” Atiyeh shot back.
“You might want to place your parents here one day.”
South Whitehall has tabled other rezoning requests because they’re in the middle of going through their comprehensive plan, said Township Planner Gregg Adams.
The planning commission’s recommendations go on to the township commissioners.
Atiyeh owns other adult care facilities, including Saucon Valley Manor in Hellertown, Parkland Manor in South Whitehall Township and Whitehall Manor in Whitehall Township.