East Allen Township warehouse receives preliminary approval – WFMZ Allentown

EAST ALLEN TWP., Pa. - East Allen Townships first proposed commercial warehouse moved closer to final approval Thursday night, but a list of conditions must be met and a court appeal resolved before the project can advance.

Supervisors unanimously voted to grant preliminary conditional approval for VerTek Construction Management to build a 450,000-square-foot warehouse on 42 acres at Airport Road and Route 329.

VerTek representatives agreed to sign a list of 15 conditions, including paying a fee in lieu of donating land for open space, signing an agreement holding the township harmless against claims of damage from downstream property owners, completing highways improvements as required by the township and the state Department of Transportation and taking responsibility for the storm sewer system.

Before the vote on preliminary conditional approval, the board accepted three waiver requests from the developer, all related to the design of four detention ponds and water discharge. Because the ponds will exceed the townships depth requirements, VerTek, as a safety measure, will install split rail fencing with wire mesh around the four ponds.

While the boards action was for a 35-foot-high warehouse, VerTek wants to extend that to 48 feet. According to solicitor Joseph Piperato III, Vertex is challenging in county court the Zoning Hearing Boards May decision denying a variance to exceed the height requirement.

VerTek plans to build its warehouse on land thats zoned commercial. Warehouses are allowed there as a conditional use, but the townships ordinance limits them to 35 feet in height.

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East Allen Township warehouse receives preliminary approval - WFMZ Allentown