Commission raises technical questions on Nwood subdivision; PennDOT and conservation comments outstanding

The East Allen Township Planning Commission discussed the preliminary plan for the Nwood major subdivision on Jan. 8, 2026. Engineering representative Philip Albbright described a 15-lot single-family subdivision with a single entrance and a loop road, while staff and reviewers identified several outstanding technical issues that must be resolved before the commission will recommend approval.

Staff said a submission to the Northampton County Conservation District requires a response by Jan. 15; the applicant acknowledged it is preparing replies. Reviewers also found an error in the project’s waiver-and-deferral letter that incorrectly referenced two driveways onto Abraham Way; the revised plan shows only one access and the letter must be corrected.

Commissioners and staff reviewed truck-turning templates (garbage, fire apparatus and WB62 tractor-trailer) and noted potential conflicts if vehicles must use adjacent lanes when parked cars reduce roadway width. PennDOT’s initial comments are still pending; the project was scaled from 20 to 15 units, which may eliminate a prior left-turn-lane requirement but staff said only PennDOT can confirm that. Staff also said the sewage-facility planning module had not been submitted and that stormwater basin depth and maintenance access need revision (staff suggested a headwall to reduce excessively deep inlets).

Given these outstanding agency reviews and plan revisions, staff recommended that the commission defer making a formal preliminary-plan recommendation until PennDOT, the conservation district and the sewage-module submissions are resolved and stormwater details are revised.