Allen Township residents ramp up opposition to FedEx megahub; supervisor calls them 'clueless'
Published: Jan. 29, 2014, 12:34 a.m.
Colin McEvoy | The Express-Times
Allen township supervisors fedex project
Robert Nappa speaks against the proposed FedEx megahub at a crowded Allen Township supervisors meeting.
(Express-Times Photo | COLIN MCEVOY)
It could be months before Allen Township supervisors make a final decision on a $175 million FedEx Ground megahub proposal. But township residents aren't waiting until then to have their voices heard.
More than 30 people packed the crammed municipal meeting room, many of whom implored the five-person board of supervisors to reject the 2.3 million-square-foot project.
Robert Nappa, one of several residents organizing a grass-roots opposition to the development, said the five supervisors' political futures could depend on their votes for this project.
"Those of you who vote for this facility, know this might be your last term because we're going to work really hard to put people on this board who are looking out for Allen Township residents," said Nappa, of the 300 block of East Bullshead Road.
Supervisors largely remained silent as resident after resident spoke. But frustration bubbled to the surface just as the meeting ended.
"You people are clueless," Supervisor Vice Chairman Bruce Frack muttered as people started filing out of the room.
The massive project includes a 1.3 million-square-foot distribution center and 1 million square feet of warehouse space on Willowbrook Road. The overall development spans 253 acres.
"This whole FedEx development is bigger than our township; this is going to affect the whole Lehigh Valley," said Mike Givey, of the 1900 block of East Bullshead Road.
"I think whatever tax revenue benefit it's going to be, and the small amount of jobs that will be created, are going to be offset by the lack of productivity with everybody sitting on 22," Givey said. "I really can foresee this being gridlocked Route 22."
Vote months away
Supervisors will not vote on the project until they receive a recommendation from the township planning commission, which met last week to consider the project's land development plan and subdivision.
The planning commission will continue discussing the proposal Feb. 17.
Officials from the Rockefeller Group, the New York-based developer helming the project, said it will create 800 jobs, a number that opposing township residents have disputed.
Opponents say the location is inappropriate for such a large development and will result in reduced property values, major traffic, noise problems, bright lights, air pollution and the loss of the township's pastoral setting.
Nappa questioned why the development is not being built off Interstate 78 rather than four miles and seven traffic lights away from Route 22, resulting in significant congestion from tractor-trailers.
"Why aren't they considering putting this facility on Interstate 78, which was built for this type of volume?" he asked. "There's got to be a financial benefit for them to put it so high up the highway."
The project will add an estimated 17,602 vehicles a day to the surrounding roads, including 1,800 tractor-trailers, 580 small-box delivery vehicles and 12,222 employee cars.
The fight continues
The opposing citizens group collected financial contributions outside the meeting, which Nappa said will go to an attorney they plan to hire.
The land in question is zoned industrial. Resident Kim Nappa asked whether the zoning can be changed specifically to prevent the FedEx project from coming in.
Township solicitor B. Lincoln Treadwell said even if that could be done, the developer would be legally obligated to the zoning in place when they filed their application.
Several residents questioned recent changes to a township zoning ordinance, which makes it easier for a developer to receive an exception to build something higher than the city's 60-foot height restriction.
Previously, developers required a variance from the township and a letter from Lehigh Valley International Airport. Treadwell said that was found to be redundant, and now they only require the airport letter.
Under questioning from residents, Treadwell said the Rockefeller Group was involved in discussions that led to that change, but he said it was not done exclusively for them and it will affect other developers as well.
If approved, the first phase of the development will be built by 2015, along with $25 million in planned traffic improvements. The entire project would be completed by 2017.
Contact Allentown reporter Colin McEvoy at 484-894-2549 or cmcevoy@express-times.com.
Follow @AllentownLVL
Like Allentown on lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook