Upper Macungie is expected to boom in the next 25 years. How will they get everything to fit?

Upper Macungie Township, Pennsylvania, is bracing for significant growth over the next 25 years, with its population projected to increase by 90% and 20,000 new jobs added, according to a study by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC). This rapid development, described by Don Cunningham, president and CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., as a "shift of economic centers" to former rural townships, is prompting crucial decisions about land use and community planning. Amidst this expansion, a proposed 2.6 million-square-foot data center on the former Air Products campus has become a point of contention. Resident Lauren Miller, who attended an overflow zoning board meeting in February, expressed strong opposition, citing concerns about noise pollution, "voracious consumption of electricity and water," and the creation of "relatively few jobs" for township citizens. Miller contrasted this with a planned $3.5 billion Eli Lilly pharmaceutical facility, which she views as a "development done right" due to its appropriate location and promise of hundreds of high-paying jobs, despite her concerns about groundwater impact from pharmaceutical production. Upper Macungie Board of Supervisors member Sunny Ghai emphasized the need for "thoughtful and intentional planning" to balance growth with the preservation of open space and farmland. The township is updating its zoning map and making public investments, such as a new Lifestyle Community Center, to manage development. However, residents like Miller advocate for cohesive development that enhances community charm rather than disjointed industrial or "cookie-cutter" housing projects.