ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Increased commercial truck traffic and road safety from a proposed 866,000-square-foot warehouse in Bethlehem Township and Freemansburg was among topics reviewed Tuesday by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s Comprehensive Planning Committee.
Among other topics discussed was a proposed 358,000-square-foot warehouse off Savage Road in Allen Township.
- A proposed 866,000-square-foot warehouse in Bethlehem Township and Freemansburg was discussed Tuesday by Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's Comprehensive Planning Committee
- A 358,000-square-foot warehouse planned for Allen Township also was reviewed
- Traffic concerns regarding both projects were discussed
Proposed by developer Trammell Crow Co. of Bethlehem, the larger warehouse project would create 1,481 daily vehicle trips — 520 trucks and 961 passenger vehicles.
According to the Trammell Co., 74 dock stations for trucks and more than 500 parking spaces for passenger vehicles are planned for the site.
Use of some roads 'unacceptable'
Members of the comprehensive planning committee voiced concerns about the anticipated traffic increase through Bethlehem Township and Freemansburg, as well as impacts on Lower Saucon Township, Hellertown and Bethlehem.
Commercial truck access to and from the project location and the impact to the surrounding communities are a concern because of the need to connect to Interstate 78 via State Route 33 to the east or through South Side of Bethlehem via State Route 412, the report shows.
"Use of Main Street in Freemansburg for trucks is unacceptable."Chairman Steve Melnick, LVPC Comprehensive Planning Committee
Ultimately, the majority of commercial trucks would be on major arterial roads for access to the Interstate system of highways for the movement of freight, according to the report.
Tractor-trailer access impacts to the surrounding communities are a significant concern. Truck routes should be planned to prevent drivers from using GPS directions that guide them to Interstate 78 along roads not built to handle large trucks, the LVPC report said.
The warehouse traffic plan also indicates trucks will use Main Street in Freemansburg, which LVPC committee member John Gallagher of Northampton County strongly opposed.
Committee Chairman Steve Melnick concurred, calling the use along Main Street “unacceptable.”
The LVPC deems the Willow Park Road and Freemansburg Avenue intersection a high-crash location, noting that safety improvements to that area should be reviewed.
Allen warehouse also would increase traffic
The application for the Allen Township warehouse construction project includes improvements to parking and truck loading areas, a new stream crossing to provide access to Savage Road, and various underground infiltration basins to collect storm water.
Committee member Bob Elbich of Lehigh County suggested the addition of solar panels to the roof of the warehouse should be included to the project plans.
The project would generate 612 total trips daily, including 215 by tractor trailers, increasing traffic on an already congested Weaversville Road.Lehigh Valley Planning Commission report
As with the Bethlehem Township/Freemansburg Borough warehouse project, the Allen Township project would increase traffic to the area.
The LVPC estimates it would generate 612 total trips daily, including 215 by tractor trailers, increasing traffic on an already congested Weaversville Road.
The existing land use for the past 10 years at the proposed warehouse site has been a single-family residence with storage containers and agriculture.
The LVPC will address the reviews of both warehouse projects at a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday.
