During Upper Macungie Township Board of Supervisor’s meeting Thursday night, Chairman Edward Earley quoted the time-worn cliché that beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder.

But quickly added he would challenge anyone to say the Iron Run Motel is a looker.

Even its owner, Minu Desai admitted Thursday night the place is dilapidated.

That’s why Desai’s plans to tear down the 60-year old motel off Ruppsville Road and Tilghman Street and construct a new four-story, 50-room Best Western Hotel on its site would appear to be a "win-win" situation for all involved, according to Desai's attorney Charles Fox. However Desai needs relief on several zoning issues and earlier this summer the Zoning Hearing Board granted only some of them, leaving the proposal up-in-the-air and facing a narrow window to keep it alive, according to Fox.

"There is still time to get this done yet," Fox said.

Supervisor Samir Ashmar made it clear Thursday night to Fox not to count on his vote.

“There’s other uses for that property,” he told Fox.

Supervisor Kathy Rader was slightly more interested in the specifics of Fox and Desai’s proposal and supervisors’ agreed to table the issue until the October 4th meeting for further review. Nevertheless Desai’s burden remains high as Rader made it clear that she thought his requests amounted to “spot zoning.”

In other business, supervisors approved two development projects that last month had received the blessing of the Planning Commission.

Majestic Land Development Co.’s proposal to build a 220,000 square foot manufacturing warehouse facility off Shantz Road and plans from developer Heritage Highgate to build 22-single family housing units along Twin Ponds Road received supervisors’ approval.

And after surprising outcry from at least two residents in attendance, supervisors voted 3-0 to change the township’s official “Trick or Treat” night from October 26th to Halloween night.