ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Citing a laundry list of issues ranging from incompatible land use to being adjacent to both residential neighborhoods and educational facilities, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission voted unanimously against a large warehouse project in North Whitehall Township.
The commission expressed major concerns over the proposal to construct a 547,500-square-foot warehouse at 3121 Route 309, and consolidate four parcels.
"Our primary job is to determine whether or not this project comports with FutureLV. This one falls far short."Christopher R. Amato, chair, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
“It appears to be out of scale and not what people of this community want.”
Real estate developer Trammell Crowe Co., of Dallas, Tex., proposed constructing the building near the intersection with Orefield and Kernsville roads.
The subject property is better suited for smaller-scale low-impact commercial and industrial land uses that support local businesses and residents and can provide a transition between residential and industrial developments, the commission said.
The proposed land parcel is zoned for light industrial. The size and scope of the warehouse project would fall under heavy industrial.
The LVPC also cited the site’s high-preservation priority to natural resources as yet another reason for its opposition to the project.
A portion of the property not proposed for development is also located in South Whitehall Township.
The 71.1-acre site is largely undeveloped, containing an existing residence, agricultural land and woodlands.
Additionally, the commission opposed the planned 50-feet-high size of the warehouse.
“[The] warehouse greatly surpasses the scale of surrounding developments,” the commission said.
The commission also voiced concern over the wear and tear of surrounding roadways due to increased truck traffic.
The proposed warehouse project is estimated to generate an average of 903 total vehicle trips per day, of which 600 are passenger vehicles and 303 are trucks.
“It’s occurred to me that with the number of vehicle trips per day — almost 1,000 — I hope North Whitehall Township knows how much more it’s going to take to take care of their roadways,” said LVPC member Steve Melnick. “I can only imagine what’s going to happen to those roadways.”
