BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The city Planning Commission on Thursday liked what it saw in a proposal for two new warehouses at Lehigh Valley Industrial Park VII near Route 412 and the Hellertown border.
The “industrial flex” buildings would include both a 216,000-square-foot warehouse with 32 loading docks, 31 trailer storage spaces and 107 general parking spaces on more than 18 acres; and a 101,000-square-foot warehouse with 27 loading docks and 50 parking spaces on more than 8 acres.
A local business of prominence is “in need of about 200,000 square feet of cold storage space,” and is targeted to set up shop in the larger of the two facilities if the overall proposal later goes through.Project executive Joe Petrucci, of J.G. Petrucci Co. Inc.
Project executive Joe Petrucci, of J.G. Petrucci Co. Inc., said a local business of prominence is “in need of about 200,000 square feet of cold storage space,” and is targeted to set up shop in the larger of the two facilities if the overall proposal later goes through.
The smaller building of more than 100,000 square feet has no tenant on deck, but for now is considered to be a “speculative industrial facility,” Petrucci said.
The planning panel unanimously gave support to city zoners regarding a special exception for the warehouse use within the city’s Industrial Redevelopment district.
It also approved a requested variance for a reduction in off-street parking at the smaller warehouse.
Developers are set to go before the Zoning Hearing Board on Oct. 23.
Making the area 'pop'
Filling out the park’s vacant space has been a challenge, but those associated with the project will work to make the new facilities fit the character of the city’s eastern gateway, LVIP Chief Executive Officer Kerry Wrobel said.
“We concluded that without this being a retail site, without it being an office site, without any interest from major institutional uses, that we would move forward and create a [request for proposal] for two industrial flex buildings,” Wrobel said.
"Although industrial, we certainly want a quality finish with landscaping, signage, facade lighting, that would be in keeping with the 412 corridor and a gateway site.”
LVIP VII takes up 1,000 acres on former Bethlehem Steel land.
"Although industrial, we certainly want a quality finish with landscaping, signage, facade lighting, that would be in keeping with the 412 corridor and a gateway site.”Lehigh Valley Industrial Park CEO Kerry Wrobel
Planning Commission Chairman Robert Melosky said if the project is later approved, he wanted developers to really make that area “pop” with proper signage and appropriate landscaping considering its proximity to a major roadway.
“Quite honestly, anytime some of the ‘warehouse’ and whatnot come up in the Lehigh Valley, it always sparks some dialogue,” Melosky said.
“But we’re proud that Mr. Wrobel and his leadership and his group have taken that initiative. I think the tract, the land that we have, is suited for this type" of use.
City Planning and Zoning Director Darlene Heller said, “Maybe the most significant reason that warehousing is really challenging to the Lehigh Valley is because much of it is happening in areas that are inappropriate for warehouse development, and the roads can’t handle the traffic, et. cetera.”
Planner Joy Cohen said she appreciated the loading docks placed at the rear of the buildings in current project renderings, though she wished general parking access also would be moved around back or have appropriate screening installed, if need be.
