Mack seeks more parking spots
Company reps get conditional plan approval
Mack Trucks is looking to add 253 parking spaces at its Lower Macungie plant so they don’t have to keep moving trucks around off-site, which they have been doing.
Mack representatives came before the Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission on Tuesday to get its blessing on plans that would bring the number of truck spaces to 543, adding about 3 acres of parking. They also want to add 34 parking spaces for cars in an area along Alburtis Road.
Township Director of Planning Nathan Jones said the proposal “consolidates and keeps all assets on a single site. They’re looking to ensure that their assets are as close to the facility as possible.”
Mack representatives left the meeting with a conditional approval but will have to hash out some details with the township commissioners, planners and staff before commissioners can give the final approval for the project.
The planners were concerned about where employees would exit the property during shift changes.
Currently, there is one main exit for employees and another driveway, which George J. Hartman, an engineer with Bohler Engineering speaking for Mack, said would be closed and only used as an emergency exit. The main exit on Orchard Road would be moved to another section of the road as part of the project.
Planning commission member Tim Pickle, who lives on Orchard Road, said employees don’t always stop at the stop sign at Orchard Road.
“Have you ever been there when employees leave at Alburtis Road and Orchard?” Pickle asked. “It is a zoo. It’s dangerous.”
Pickle said he’s worried that the problems during shift changes will get worse if Mack closes one exit and funnels all the traffic to Orchard Road.
“So I really have some great concerns about it,” Pickle said. “I think this needs to be discussed a whole lot more.”
Commission Chairman Thomas Beil asked if the new configuration would be an improvement and Hartman said it should be.
The proposal includes some traffic-calming measures, Jones said.
Planner Maury Robert said there ought to be a traffic light on Orchard, which could help employees exit faster. Planner Al Perez suggested meeting with PennDOT officials about whether they would be receptive to a traffic light or other measures at the exit.
While not discounting that suggestion, Beil asked if it was fair to delay the project while waiting for PennDOT to approve a light.
“My experience with PennDOT is sometimes it takes years to get a traffic signal,” he said.
Jones suggested making approval of the project conditional on the Mack representatives meeting with township commissioners and township staff to hash out some of the traffic concerns and other issues.
With that, the planners voted 6-1 for the conditional approval, with Pickle voting no.