Are Iron Run Motel Days Numbered?
Owner Minu Kumar Desai again tells Upper Macungie Supervisors he wants to raze 'dilapidated' Iron Run Motel and build $3 million Best Western hotel.
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Could the Iron Run Motel's days finally be numbered? That depends on who you believe.
The dilapidated motel at 5630 Tilghman St. has been on the township's radar for demolition for years, but its fate is still in doubt after Thursday night's Upper Macungie Supervisors meeting.
Minu Kumar Desai, who owns both Iron Run and a four-story Best Western Motel in the township, seeks to demolish the four motel buildings he owns that total 6,731 square feet and add two adjacent properties for a combined one acre of land.
The planned new 50-room hotel would be 43,835 square feet on land zoned R-4 (residential) and NC (neighborhood commercial) at a cost of $3 million.
However, those plans do not concur with the township's current zoning laws, which is another fight Desai has on his hands.
Earlier this year, the township's Zoning Hearing Board heard a request from Desai and his lawyer, Lawrence B. Fox, that garnered mixed results. Any appeal would go to Lehigh County Court, where a judge would read the transcripts of the proceedings in order to make a decision.
Last night, supervisors made it clear that giving Desai so-called "spot zoning" is not something they are interested in and that he should consider building something else on the property once the motel is razed.
"If we agree to go against zoning, there's no justice for the township there," said supervisor Sam Ashmar of changing zoning laws. "Maybe you should raze the Iron Run and sell the lots or do something else with the land."
"Spot zoning is not legal and sets a dangerous precedent for the township," added supervisor Kathy Rader.
Fire Commissioner Grant Grim noted there are currently a number of health hazards at the motel, including bed bugs.
Desai and his attorney will appear again before the Board of Supervisors at its next scheduled meeting on Oct. 4 to discuss franchise agreements and bank financing, among other topics currently tied into the project.
Linda M. Lemak
1:51 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
I don't think we need another Best Western within a mile of each other. The traffic down our road was bad enough when Tilghman was closed, how will this route traffic down Memorial Rd, from one Best Western to another?
skippy
2:32 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
your son butchered my tattoo!!!
skippy
2:33 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
I miss when this place was a topless nudie bar, teens could get 6 packs to go, dime bags out the back door, poker up front liquor in the rear
Michael S. De Selm
4:55 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
skippy - I find your commentary to lack substance or etiquette. Please, do us all a favor and find a better use of the time you spend in front of the computer; or at least refrain from contributing spam to this public discourse.
Brunell
7:34 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
Please come to the township meetings the first Thursday of the month. You have an opportunity to voice your opinion. It is very important for the elected officials to hear from us. The board we have now is not perfect, but, they do listen. The more that come to voice their opinion, the better chance we have to influence what happens in our community. The owner of this property showed up at the meeting. His attorney actually stated that if the township did not re-zone (which may not be legal) the owner would just let the place sit and rot with the current use. It was a threat! Please show up at the meetings!
Mike Makoul
10:01 pm on Monday, September 10, 2012
Mr. Desai should consider proposing a warehouse on the property instead. Since warehouses are the preferred form of development in Upper Macungie, he should have no trouble getting it approved.
Cynthia A. Troxell
11:36 am on Monday, October 1, 2012
Mr. Desai has been in the hotel business along with his family for many years. I believe Upper Macungie Township is being unfair in refusing to make a motel into a hotel. Something new and nicely done will improve business to Upper Macungie Township and introduce outsiders to the area. The Township seems to want another strip mall with unused stores that seem to never open anything that flourishes or another "empty" warehouse! In this tough economy it is terrific someone has the funds and expertise to better the community and neighborhood. Mr. Desai has put so much into this project and progress does not seem to make much difference with our "current" board of supervisors. It is ashame that no one in the immediate neighborhood objects to the improvement, but the township still will not positively improve such a negative aspect in the community!