Politics & Government

South Whitehall Commissioners Support Jaindl Plan for Shoemaker Lot

Developer David Jaindl discusses a plan to buy the Shoemaker auto dealership and rezone it for neighborhood shops next to his proposed development, The Hills at Winchester.

South Whitehall Township's Board of Commissioners appear to favor developer David Jaindl's plans to buy Shoemaker's auto dealership and rezone it for a neighborhood retail center.

The dealership at 4131 Walbert Ave. is next to Jaindl's proposed development of 90 high-end single-family homes called The Hills at Winchester on about 94 acres of farmland.

Although the board did not take a formal vote at its meeting Wednesday, members appear to support Jaindl's plan, said Township Manager Jon Hammer. 

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Jaindl has not yet submitted formal plans to the township for the Shoemaker property. 

Community Development Manager Gerald Harbison said that Jaindl's cooperation with the township is "unprecedented."

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"It's not usual that you engage a developer early in the process," Harbison said when Jaindl discussed his plan at the July commissioners meeting.

Township officials had approached Jaindl with a plan to rezone the Shoemaker lot several months ago. They say it is the best-case scenario for the tract, rather than sell to another developer who could build something bigger and more unsuitable for the neighborhood.

The auto dealership is a non-conforming use under current zoning, and as such, a new property owner could expand its use.

 Alternate Solicitor Jim Preston has said rezoning it to neighborhood commercial use would be a much less intense use than what an unknown developer could build on it.

By selling to Jaindl, he said, "We would know what it is, and we would be able to control it and integrate it into [his] plan."

Jaindl presented his concept plan again Wednesday to build neighborhood-friendly shops and a restaurant, and to extend Hampton Road north of Walbert Avenue into the housing development. The extended road would create a needed second access to the development.

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

Brian Shoemaker, one of the property's owners, told residents at the meeting Wednesday he believed Jaindl would responsibly develop the land, according to The Morning Call.



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