BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. — Lehigh Valley municipalities are suiting up for another legal battle over the potential expansion of the Bethlehem Landfill.
- Bethlehem Township commissioners are planning to join the latest fight against the potential expansion of Bethlehem Landfill
- Lower Saucon Township residents applauded the move
- A public hearing is set for Wednesday, Aug. 30
Bethlehem Township commissioners on Monday unanimously approved the township solicitor to file a petition with Northampton County Court for intervention in the most recent litigation against the dump.
This comes following a civil lawsuit filed last week by eight Lower Saucon Township residents against Bethlehem Landfill and Lower Saucon Township.
The lawsuit references the alleged disregard of the Donated or Dedicated Property Act and over 200 acres of protected land under easement and placed in the public trust — all as a result of the most recent rezoning proposal from Lower Saucon Township Council.
If the ordinance was later approved, it would pave the way for a potential expansion of the landfill by rezoning 275 acres of farmland for light industrial use. This also would involve allowing landfill uses as a matter of right, as opposed to typically requiring a special exception approval from the township zoning hearing board.
Hellertown Borough Council last week approved potential litigation against Lower Saucon, pending the result of a vote on the ordinance.
Commentary from the board, audience
Bethlehem Township Commissioner Luke Verdes said the panel passed a resolution in February opposing any potential expansion of the dump, also moving to obtain conditional use status and take part in the hearings that took place during the original rezoning proposal from Lower Saucon Council.
He said approval of the measure Monday was in line with those former legal moves.
“We should continue to oppose the landfill [expansion], taking the necessary legal action in coordination with other municipalities to prevent that landfill expansion from going forward,” Verdes said.
Russell Sutton, a Steel City resident, said any potential expansion would affect not only this current generation but those to come.
“When I first moved to the [Lehigh] Valley and I built my home, my first question was, ‘How long is it (the landfill) going to be there?’ They said four to five years.
“That was 1983. Guess what? It’s 2023.”
Victoria Opthof-Cordaro, spokesperson for Citizens for Responsible Development-Lower Saucon Township, said since the newest rezoning ordinance would call for allowing landfill uses as a matter of right, it would pull the rug out from under other affected groups seeking to provide input.
“The reasoning that they’ve indicated publicly for that was because the conditional use hearings weren’t accomplishing much,” Opthof-Cordaro said.
“And so that directly took all of the stakeholders and the coalition, and took their opportunity to participate and provide meaningful feedback and provide conditions in any type of landfill expansion proposal — it took your opportunity to be heard away.”
“I ask that you would oppose this in any way possible, as far as enabling the landfill to be able to do anything. Our own council, majority is in favor of the landfill. … They walk all over us. ”Robert Blasko, Lower Saucon resident who recently sued the township and Bethlehem Landfill
Robert Blasko, one of the suing residents who lives near the landfill, said Bethlehem Township commissioners should do whatever they can to stop any movement towards expanding the dump. He added that Lower Saucon Council doesn’t listen to concerns from its residents.
“I ask that you would oppose this in any way possible, as far as enabling the landfill to be able to do anything,” Blasko said. “Our own council, majority is in favor of the landfill. … They walk all over us.”
Landfill solicitor's take
Maryanne Starr Garber, an attorney who represents the landfill's owners, last week wrote in an email that any potential expansion would also come with a mandated 157 acres of permanently preserved land.
She wrote that the landfill is a large contributor to Lower Saucon's tax revenue, keeps residents’ tax rates down and supports local charities.
Lower Saucon Township Council will be hosting a public hearing on the ordinance at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, at the Se-Wy-Co Fire Station, 3621 Old Philadelphia Pike.
