Roy Christman said he talked to someone in Palmerton and was told they welcome development. At the Oct. 24 ordinance update meeting held in Lower Towamensing he asked if urging businesses to locate in Palmerton could be added to Towamensing's zoning ordinance. The updates are required by the regional comprehensive plan.

Pete Terp asked if cluster housing has to be included. That would permit six-housing units per acre with 25 percent guaranteed open space.Christine Meinhart said the Natural Lands Trust would like to meet with the townships to answer questions about open space. She asked if the meeting would be opened to other municipalities.Tom Newman thought the meeting would be a great idea.Hanover Engineering's Steve Dellinger said Lower Towamensing presently has four residential zones that should be cut to two. Two allow mobile home parks and the other two do not.Guy Seifert asked if Towamensing would want two. From the lack of response he said Towamensing has no desire for a second zone.Dellinger asked what the likelihood was of public sewer in Towamensing. Seifert said it will be there only if a private developer installs it.Meinhart said she would check how much of the residential areas in Towamensing have been built out.Rodney George said there is land, but if the owners do not want to sell the land it will not be developed.Duane Dellecker said Weiner's Mobile Home Park has an additional 20 acres it can develop if it can connect to Palmerton's sewer. He suggested two zones for Lower Towamensing - one with and one without sewer and water.The Act 537 (sewer) plan in Lower Towamensing has not been approved by the Department of Environmental Protection.Angela Farrell said they know the sewage area whether or not this plan is adopted: Little Gap Highway, Forest Inn Road to Fireline, Stony Ridge and part of Hahn's Dairy.Dellecker said trailer parks should be by special exception so they have public review.Dellinger asked about resorts and recreation.Terp asked Farrell if Lower Towamensing has to do something about rural recreation. There is an amusement area at Blue Mountain by right with condos and a water park.Housing should be temporary, but Barbara Green said there are people who would love to have permanent homes on the mountain.Dellecker said it is presently zoned as a "transient and permanent housing" situation. Permanent housing impacts the schools, something they want to avoid.The sand quarry owner at Little Gap is considered "mysterious" about his plans which might even mean reopening the quarry. Seifert asked if he could open an ATV park and was told it could be.Areas of mixed commercial and residential development are termed villages, but both Little Gap and Aquashicola have historically been called villages.Neighborhood commercial is the term to be used to cover light commercial zones. It is non-intensive and non-highway intensive.Christman asked why the corner at Beltzville Inn was commercial and farther out toward the lake is another area. The second one he said has scenic value. He thinks that should be rezoned for minimal housing. Meinhart said the bed and breakfast is behind the commercial zone.Meinhart said landowners in that stretch do not necessarily want the commercial designation. It is an area that needs looking at, she said.Heavy commercial areas in Towamensing included the areas around Country Junction, the John Deere dealer and fire company - and logically, added Seifert, Ohl's should be included.Green asked if the right to strip malls has been removed. Newman said people move farther out and malls will come regardless. He said they would be replaced with better strip malls, which Christman termed an oxymoron.Seifert takes customers to Palmerton and people are amazed that the town still has a 1950s look. The town is a nice place to raise kids and there are a lot of small businesses. People take care of their properties.Dellecker said no drive-through restaurants are permitted, though walk-ups are.Terp said as far as Route 209 is concerned Carbon County is geared to tourism. People come from Route 33 to Jim Thorpe. 209 will be ripe for development.There was discussion about Seifert's industrial property and the restrictions in the zoned area. He said it worked out well for him but wonders about others. Meinhart said the restrictions should be looked at.Seifert said the industrial base is falling away, and questioned that the zinc company is close to wetlands.Meinhart said she hears two questions: "Where can I put a group home etc.?" or "I have this land and what can I do with it."Christman said a representative was attending from the Audubon Society. Jeanne Ortiz wants to see what is going on and would like a meeting to discuss the Appalachian Trail. The state passed a trail protection act but it is up to the municipalities to decide how they want to do it.Dellecker said it should be with the Lower Towamensing planning commission and not the update committee.The next meeting is Nov. 21, 6 p.m., in Towamensing.