Jaindl Plan for Walbert Ave. Strip Mall Concerns Residents

Developer David Jaindl came to the South Whitehall Township Planning Commission looking for public feedback to his latest plan on and got it.

The standing-room-only crowd at the meeting Thursday night overwhelmingly opposed Jaindl's plan to build a high-end strip mall and restaurant on the Shoemaker car dealership lot, saying it would change the character of the residential area and increase traffic on Walbert Avenue.

Jaindl, acting on an earlier suggestion by the planning commission and some residents, proposed rezoning the car dealership to neighborhood commercial and extending Hampton Road north of Walbert into the 90-single-family-home development on the former Rutz Farm.

Neighborhood commercial development in South Whitehall includes businesses such as art galleries, gift shops, pizza shops, dry cleaners, bakeries, barbers and small professional offices.

A woman in the audience suggested Jaindl buy the Shoemaker lot and turn it into a community garden. Jaindl said the Shoemaker family would likely only sell the property -- and he would only buy it -- if it could be for commercial use because a residential property is worth about 25 percent less.

"That would not be the smartest business decision. It's too expensive," Jaindl said.

The use of the property as a car dealership is a non-conforming use that is grandfathered into the current zoning.

Entrances and exits from the Hills at Winchester have posed a challenge. Jaindl has proposed accessing the development from 40th Street, if it's extended north of Walbert, and Penn's Crossing.

Jaindl and residents who live on Brickyard Road, a steep and narrow road at the northern end of the development, do not want to make it an access road because it would be too dangerous.