UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — Plans to more than double the size of an Upper Macungie cold storage facility will move forward.
Upper Macungie Zoning Hearing Board on Wednesday approved plans for a 60-foot-tall, 326,859 square-foot building expansion to Americold Logistics’ cold storage warehouse at 7150 Ambassador Drive. The warehouse stores frozen food.
The zoners’ approval came with conditions, such as addressing resident complaints about announcements projected outside the building and providing a snow scraper for the trucks.
The plan now will go through the typical land development process with the township Board of Supervisors.
The expansion would be attached to the existing, 45-foot-tall, 268,521-square-foot building. Plans also include a new detached 3,774-square-foot office/welfare building.
The expansion would double the number of truck trips per day to 490, representatives with the applicant said.
The plan is in the township’s Light Industrial zoning district. Warehousing is permitted by “special exception” in that district, meaning it needs to be approved by township zoners.
When a warehouse is allowed by “special exception,” that means it is an allowed use as long as the property owner proves the warehouses will not harm the township any more than another warehouse plan, Assistant Township Manager Kal Sostarecz said previously.
Wednesday’s meeting was the last with Vice Chairman Jeff Fleishaker. He was elected to the township Board of Supervisors on Nov. 7, and cannot serve in both positions.
Resident concerns
Resident Tina Cincera, who lives near the Americold warehouse, requested the board delay its decision to give members of the adjacent neighborhood more time to find an attorney to represent them in the hearing.
“We believe that it's fair for the resident's concerns to be heard and for our attorney to have a reasonable opportunity to represent our interests,” Cincera said.
Some concerns Cincera cited were the noise created by the expansion, more traffic at the nearby intersections and increased pollution from the trucks.
“Hopefully based on the testimony tonight you’re hearing, they want to try to be as good neighbors as they possibly can."Attorney for Americold Logistics Graham Simmons
Americold Logistics attorney Graham Simmons said the applicant is willing to listen to resident concerns.
“Hopefully based on the testimony tonight you’re hearing, they want to try to be as good neighbors as they possibly can,” Simmons said.
“I know it's difficult. It's this big industrial park. I get it. But please, have him [the attorney] reach out to me to see if there's something we can do.”
Warehouse accross from municipal building
Zoners also approved a plan for an 82,000-square-foot warehouse across from the township municipal building, at Nestle Way, Schantz Road and Oldt Court.
The plan also is in the township’s Light Industrial zoning district.
The developer is Real Deal Management. The warehouse would be built “on spec,” meaning it does not currently have a tenant.
The proposed warehouse is estimated to create 46 truck trips per day. The developer asked for flexibility to allow up to 100 truck trips per day, but zoners denied that request.
