Heidelberg approves land development plans at planners’ recommendation

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

Heidelberg Township supervisors approved a land development plan for a contractor shop at 146 Sinclair Road and a two-lot subdivision at 1713 Heidelberg Ave. at its monthly meeting Tuesday, Sept. 22.

Both plans were approved with supervisor Ivan Martin abstained due to conflicts of interest. Both approvals are conditional on developers addressing remaining comments from the engineer and solicitor.

Martin represented ISM Construction and presented the plan for the Sinclair Road business, as well as several requested waivers for the plan.

Board members Paul Fetter and Steve Martin approved the plan and waivers for a preliminary/final plan, reduction in required berm width, and increase of berm slope from a 5-to-1 to a 3-to-1 ratio. Supervisors also approved a deferral of right-of-way dedication, meaning the township is not requesting dedication now, but may do so later.

Ivan Martin also abstained from the 1713 Heidelberg Ave. subdivision, which divides the six-acre parcel into two lots and builds a new home on the second lot. Waivers for a right-of-way dedication on Heidelberg Avenue, roadside curbing requirement, berm width reduction, berm slope increase, anti-seep collar requirements, and road-widening/shoulder improvements were approved by Fetter and Steve Martin.

Solicitor Paul Bametzreider recommended that Ivan Martin provide a written letter explaining his abstention from both plans, as well as an escrow release he also abstained from.

Fetter emphasized that both plans were being approved at the recommendation of the planning commission at its meeting Monday.

This comes after supervisors approved waivers and a land development plan for 2734 Heidelberg Ave. against the recommendation of the planning commission in August, with Fetter opposed. At that meeting, planning commission members claimed they were not given enough time to review plans, saying processes had changed since supervisors changed engineers at the start of the year (also a mixed vote, with Fetter opposed).

The commission also requested more communication from the township engineer at its meeting Monday.

Tuesday, supervisors unanimously approved an extension on the Keener Canaan Grove Road plan through December. Township engineer Scott Hain reported that the commission would be asked to make a recommendation on the plan at its October meeting, adding that he recently received a resubmission.

Planning commission member Tim Hoffman asked when the resubmission would be provided to the commission, saying he regularly asks Hain about the status of the Keener and Holzman plans (the latter of which has not been resubmitted since 2024) and has not heard an update.

“So you’re gonna bring it in in October and ask us to make a decision that night,” said Hoffman. “We talked about transparency last night, is all I’m saying.”

Hain said he had only just received the resubmission and that he would provide it to the planning commission soon.

The board also unanimously approved a 45-day time extension for the Holzman plan, directing the engineer to communicate to the developer that the plan would be denied if a resubmission was not provided addressing the last set of engineer’s comments in good faith.

Tuesday was the first township meeting to be held in the township building at 111 Mill Road since interior renovations began, though some work is still underway.

The board unanimously approved payments of $684 and $4,185 to D&T Electric and $51,182.80 to Woodland Interior for the remodel.

In other news, the board:

• Heard that Bametzreider plans to have a draft data center ordinance ready for planning commission review in October. The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 19.
• Unanimously approved a change order of $4,918.79 and payment of $201,920.49 for the 2026 paving project.
• Unanimously approved a change order of $1,709.98 and payment of $50,623.90 for the 2026 seal coat project.

• Approved the release of $37,375.80 for the Jay Zimmerman escrow, with Ivan Martin abstained.
• Unanimously approved the purchase of a bucket broom for $7,034.25.
• Unanimously approved a $980 quote from CM High Repair for a camera part.
• Unanimously approved fire police applications from Anthony Lance and Greg Horning.
• Directed Bametzreider to send a letter to a logger who caused what Fetter called “substantial damage” to a township road, saying the logger will be held responsible for repair costs.
• Unanimously authorized the fire police to assist during the Myerstown Holiday Parade.
• Unanimously approved the township’s application for the 904 recycling performance grant.
• Announced that budget meetings will be held Oct. 7 and 14 at 1 p.m., with the Oct. 14 meeting subject to cancellation if discussions are completed Oct. 7.
• Heard a correction on MMO calculations.
• Held an executive session regarding personnel matters.
• Unanimously approved bills and minutes.

Heidelberg Township supervisors meet the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.