Lower Nazareth Municipality will consider purchasing land for housing

LOWER NAZARETH TWP., Pa.- The Lower Nazareth Township Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting Thursday night to consider making an offer to buy more than 200 acres that a developer wants to use for two housing developments.

proposed Monocacy Creek Estates, which would include 102 homes on 186 acres on Steuben Road, and Meadow Park Estates, a 16-acre development with 10 homes on Hanoverville Road.

“For these two specific parcels, they were until this year in active agricultural production,” said Lower Nazareth Township Manager Lori Stauffer. She added that in recent years, the municipality has worked to protect its natural and agricultural resources. productive lands.

“We have an official county map, (and) if someone presents a subdivision and land development plan for a property that is slated for acquisition of development rights, that is what gives the county the opportunity to pursue the goals of protecting farmland and protect natural resources,” Stauffer said.

The presentation of housing development plans in February prompted the supervisory board to request appraisals for the properties. Based on those assessments, “the board will consider authorizing his attorney to approach Mr. Jaindl with an offer,” Stauffer said.

If they move forward with the offer, supervisors will also discuss borrowing money from a bank to make up the difference for anything that would not be covered by the municipal income tax (EIT).

What if the developer declines the offer? “That’s a conversation for a future meeting,” Stauffer said.

The meeting will begin at 7 pm at the city hall building at 623 Municipal Drive.