NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — The township and kitten rescue Foxy’s Cradle have settled their disagreement.
“It’s a relief,” owner Kandice Reinert said at Monday’s township Board of Supervisors meeting, where the agreement was announced.
North Whitehall’s Zoning Hearing Board ruled in December that Foxy’s Cradle's operations were not allowed in the agricultural/rural zoning district, where the rescue is located.
The rescue’s board had planned to appeal the decision to Lehigh County Court, but instead worked with the township to restructure its operations.
The two parties outlined an agreement for how Foxy’s Cradle will operate from now on.
“It’s a good way to do it, because then everybody agrees, this is how we're going to do things,” township solicitor Thomas Dinkelacker said.
"I think we're eventually going to be able to do more than we did before. Just in a different way.”Foxy's Cradle owner Kandice Reinert
Reinert will be able to use the former rescue’s property as a base of operations, as long as it follows the rules for a “home office” under the township’s zoning laws.
That means no more than 25% of the property can be used for operations, and no cats can be housed there, Dinkelacker said.
But the nonprofit will be able to continue its trap, neuter, release program for the neighborhood feral cat colony.
Foxy’s Cradle now will use a mobile kitten unit to transport the kittens and hold community events. Kittens will be housed with foster families, and the nonprofit will provide equipment to care for them.
“We had to give up a lot, but…I think we're gonna be able to reach more people," Reinert said. "And I think we're eventually going to be able to do more than we did before. Just in a different way."
The nonprofit has until July 1 to finish restructuring its operations, Dinkelacker said.
Housing developments approved
Also Monday, supervisors approved a preliminary/final plan for Phase II of Timberidge Luxury Apartments, an apartment complex near Main Street and Levans Road now under construction.
Supervisors approved Phase I in August. That section will have six three-story buildings and a total of 72 units.
Phase II of the plan would have four apartment buildings with 12 units each, or 48 total. That would bring the total number of units across both plans to 120.
The proposed new phase of the development would be on 6.8 acres at 2356 Levans Road.
The board also approved a revised final plan for Views at Fells Creek, which would construct 27 single-family homes along Neffs Laurys Road.
