LOWER SAUCON TWP. – After an hours-long public hearing, Lower Saucon Township supervisors voted 3-2 to approve measures to expand the Bethlehem Landfill
- The vote clears the way for zoning changes needed to expand the dump
- It was the first of several steps needed for the landfill owner to accomplish its plan
- The vote came after a raucous and at times chaotic council meeting and an hours-long public hearing on the proposal. Residents who showed up to speak against it filled Town Hall.
The adopted changes help clear the way for the landfill’s expansion by rezoning 275 acres of farmland for light industrial use, moving decision-making power from the zoning hearing board to the township council, removing many site planning requirements and creating an exemption to land preservation requirements.
Wednesday night's vote was the first of many hurdles the landfill must clear to expand, including further review and approval by the township council and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
If ultimately approved, the expansion would roughly double the landfill's size, extending its useful life by 20 to 30 years.
Public Comment
At times rancorous, often emotional, usually passionate and always critical, public comment lasted more than three hours Wednesday night, drawing more than 100 members of the community, including Northampton County Commissioner Tara Zrinski and former state Rep. Karen Beyer.
Their speeches generally centered on a few main themes: the importance of preserving the forested land that borders the dump, concern about worsening odors and truck traffic, concern about pollution and contaminants escaping the landfill, and criticism of the changes to how landfills are approved.
“When my husband and I purchased our land we built our home on in 2005, we had to undergo zoning review,” resident Cindy Macallan said. “Previous owners gave up after six years trying to get those necessary approvals. After two additional years of review, we were able to build.
“Our little 1.7-acre property has to undergo this type of scrutiny. I find it unconscionable that the landfill is able to bypass the zoning review.”
Resident Lisa Albitz said she owns 16 acres on the corner of Reddington Road.
“I bought that property about 10 years ago and first thing that I did was make sure that the open space ordinance covered my property,” she said. “And I was so proud to own 16 acres of open space property. So it's a little weird for me to be here ten years later talking about deforesting 275 acres.”
Resident Curt Balch said, “I like low taxes and I can get over looking at a dump for lower taxes, and I can get over even smelling a dump for lower taxes. But what I cannot get over is the irreparable harm that dump will do to our water, our wildlife, and our community when it washes into the Lehigh River and our water table.”
Pamela Hartnett, who said she lives “at the crux of Apple Butter Road and Lower Saucon Road,” said she is “shocked every day that there is not a fatality on that road.”
“It's an amazing ride if I can get home without being driven off the road by a tractor trailer or a dump truck, or have bricks or rocks or garbage falling off at my vehicle,” she said. “I'm just shocked that we're OK with this.”
“What about the future? What about our health and the health of the environment we're leaving behind for our children and future generations?” Danielle Yanchuk asked council. “If our community's current and future well being truly is your mission, then I urge you to listen to what your community is telling you.”
Residents also questioned the council’s independence, citing radio station WLVR reporting that Bethlehem Landfill’s parent company gave $75,000 to a political action committee in 2021 that supported a slate of Republican candidates, two of whom were still on the council.
“Shouldn't we be concerned that we have now elected council members who may be at the mercy of the landfill and their financial support when there is an election?” Carol Auernheimer said. “Anyone wonder about what kind of influence this may have on what is going on now and in future council decisions?”
Resident Victoria Opthof said, “So I wonder whether [the] $75,000 that the landfill spent – whether they're gonna get their money's worth tonight.”
