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SEPTEMBER 21-27, 2017
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Wal-Mart Supercenter No longer planned for Lehigh Township BY JUSTIN SWEITZER Lehigh Township residents can breathe a sigh of relief, as the development of a Wal-Mart supercenter within the township has been nixed, according to township supervisors. At the Sept. 12 Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors meeting, the board announced that the developers behind the WalMart supercenter proposed for Route 145 and Birch Drive were withdrawing their land development plan for the property. When asked for clarification about the withdrawal, Miller told residents that there are no longer plans to move forward with developing the Wal-Mart. “They have no intention of developing that property,” she said. The decision was presented to township planners the night prior. According to Supervisor Blaine Holden, the decision was not related to the township in any way. Holden said that company representatives made that clear in front of the township’s planning commission. Miller speculated about the company’s decision, believing that it could possibly be attributed to the reshaping of corporate
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Proposed site for Wal-Mart in Lehigh Twp. - Google Maps
structures across the country. “This is all happening since Amazon announced their acquisition of Whole Foods, and I feel that Wal-Mart at this point is looking at their strategic direction and they’re reanalyzing everywhere,” she said. “We’re not the only community; they’ve pulled plans from other communities as well.” In addition to the proposed supercenter, the development would have also featured a WalMart branded convenience store and gas station. The proposal had received significant backlash from the community, with some residents even threatening to move out of the township due to the now-defunct plans. “I just think that right now they’re just trying to get their ducks in order from a corporate perspective,” Miller said. “They asked courteously that the community still support Wal-Mart.” In unrelated business, the board officially passed an ordinance further regulating firework displays within the township. The ordinance, which has been in the works since July, would limit firework displays to a maximum time span of 30
minutes. They would also have to conclude by 10 p.m. in all cases, except for national holidays including the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve. Special exceptions to guidelines set in the amended ordinance will be considered by the board of supervisors on a caseby-case basis. Solicitor David Backenstoe, who outlined the ordinance at the meeting, also said that displays in the township will require a state-licensed operator to be in attendance at the display for its entire duration. The board of supervisors also moved to approve a speed study to explore a potential speed limit reduction on North Dogwood Road, along with a warrant analysis for a three-way stop sign at the intersection of North Dogwood Road, Cottonwood Road and Red Maple Drive. The action to look into such changes came after a township resident contacted Township Manager Alice Rehrig with safety concerns about speed levels along the road and at nearby intersections. The next Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors meeting will be on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
Looking by Back Ed Pany
Remembering March 1941 The United States in 1941 was improving our defenses. We were concerned with the war in Europe and Japanese aggression in Asia. The Northampton Rotary Club heard a speaker who had spent years in Japan. His view of Japan in 1941 is interesting. He worked there as a missionary for 10 years. He said, “The Japanese people are suffering hardships. Their food is rationed and clothing is limited. They are closely watched lest they violate the many rules and regulations. The Army and Navy are well fed from immense stores that have been secured during recent years.” Should war come between the U.S. and Japan, he thought that it would be over soon. He said, “The Japanese are strong, not only in defensive positions but in armament and would put up a hard fight.” How correct he was. Here at home, each day young draft selectees were called to duty. On March 28, 1941, eleven men left Allentown by train for induction at Wilkes Barre. I am sure some of our readers knew these fine young men: Stephen Recker of Northampton, RDI, Paul Kutzler, who would later become Mayor of Northampton, George Konya, Ignatius Lorenz, Earl Shoemaker, my wife’s uncle, Kermit Kleintop, Gordon Thomas of Walnutport, Jack Cunningham,
John Drabuschak of North Catasauqua, Thomas Flyte of Bath and John Marth of Northampton, RDII. The State Employment Service issued an appeal asking every unemployed worker or every worker with a skill in defense to register. They were part of a nation in effort to recruit workers needed in national defense production. On a lighter note, the Lentz Motor Co., (remember them on Main Street?) was awarded a contract for a new Chevrolet Cruiser car for the Northampton Police Department. The contract was $258 plus the old car. The car was delivered last week. There were citizenship exercises for 34 new citizens from the Northampton area, in a program held at Northampton High School. In March 1941, you could still purchase a Pontiac Deluxe for $828 at Geo J. Falk, located at 25 West 10th Street in Northampton. Quality Service Station was selling Firestone Convoy tires for $5.51. Their slogan was, “Buy as you need, pay as you use, as little as 75 cents a week.” The Roxy featured “Andy Hardy’s Private Secretary” with Lewis Stone, Mickey Rooney and Fay Holden. We’ll be back next time in 1941 to share more memories. Moravian College 275TH Anniversary
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