A proposal to build a 204-unit apartment complex that was scrutinized by Lower Saucon Township Council officials and criticized by several residents last September appears to be back on track, after council voted 3-1 Wednesday to authorize staff to work with the developer, Woodmont Properties of New Jersey. Councilwoman Priscilla deLeon cast the lone dissenting vote, after telling representatives for the developer she is “really uncomfortable” with the plans. “To me, people move to an area because of its zoning,” she said before asking the men, “Why can’t you present a plan that meets our zoning?”
Woodmont executives David Trager and Steven Varneckas told her the complex doesn’t correspond with the current, less-dense zoning in the Friedensville Road area because single family housing isn’t what Woodmont constructs. “Our company is not building single family homes,” deLeon was told. Instead, the company specializes in building so-called “luxury apartment communities,” such as Woodmont Mews off Eighth Avenue in Bethlehem and Woodmont Place at Palmer in Palmer Township.