Business View Civil & Municipal l November 2022

125 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 Four Oaks Country Club with its attached Grazie Italian Restaurant is considered one of the most important developments in Dracut in the last 50 years which will come a plan for the connection of sidewalks, paths, trails, and bike lanes to allow multimodal transportation throughout the township. And speaking of connectivity, the entire township has access to high-speed internet and 5G networks. “Our Board of Supervisors has been very proactive in passing legislation to allow 5G and eventually 6G technology. Getting this technology into places where it isn’t traditionally offered is key to our township’s developments,” says Martocci. Having this proactive ordinance for connectivity is rare in rural areas. While it’s great to press on with development, the Supervisors would like to maintain its farming past. In Pennsylvania, there is a three- way partnership between the state, county, and municipality where farmers can sell their development rights to get capital up front, as long as they keep farming or maintain their property as open space. With the area being known for corn, soybean, and grapes, there are a thousand acres of permanently preserved farmland that is established through an easement. This outlook of farmland preservation also drives agritourism and agritainment to the region as tourists like to visit wineries and orchards. The township, for the better part of a decade, has been planning to construct a community center at Grange Road Park, with construction hopefully commencing sometime in 2023. Township Supervisors and Staff would like to change the perception of the area, which is routinely associated with warehousing and trucking, toward the multitude of other amenities it has to offer, such as open spaces, farmland, community events, and entertainment. To that end, with the community center’s development, there will be access to a full-sized indoor turf field to host soccer, lacrosse, and more, as well as multi- use courts and community rooms, which can accommodate classes, parties, meetings, and more. With excellent civil services, majestic beauty, opportunities for recreation, and a diverse business community , Upper Macungie is the place to be. And all this at an exceptionally low tax rate, with the average resident contributing around $154 per year, which is largely supported by the significant tax base provided by the industry in the area. In the coming years, the township wants to continue to build upon the identity of an area that’s proud of its divers offerings, and securing its place in the future for generations to come. UPPER MACUNGI E , PA