EASTON, Pa. — After a hearing that stretched over five hours, Easton Planning Commission chose to push a decision on the Easton Commerce Park warehouse project to July.
Wednesday's meeting showcased a sizable opposition to the million-square-foot warehouse’s land development plan, in addition to intense commission scrutiny regarding impacts on traffic, the environment and more.
But Chairman Ken Greene said commissioners need to analyze the wealth of testimony and data they heard.
Wilson — where the bulk of the property sits — approved a preliminary and final approval with conditions for the project in Sept. 2024, but it appears residents of Easton, Palmer, Wilson, and other nearby areas will continue to fight the matter.
City Hall was packed — enough so that a television featuring the meeting and additional seating were placed in the building’s third floor lobby.
Land use attorney Charlie Courtney, Bogia Engineering Inc. Project Manager Donald Haas and KCI Technologies Transportation Engineer Ian Preston presented at the meeting and addressed questions from the commission.
Each commissioner had concerns over the project, but discussion primarily touched on traffic impact in Easton and environmental issues.
Concern with traffic
Preston reviewed the Traffic Impact Study for the project, stating that the facility likely would draw around 150 trips in weekday morning peak hours, and 160 during weekday afternoon peak hours.
That would mostly be employee traffic entering and exiting, but 232 semi-trailers per day also are expected.
Since the start of the project, community members and officials have expressed concerns over the potential increase in traffic in Easton, and damage to roadways.
As part of the plan, Preston illustrated several proposed road changes.
“This is the proposed turn lane configuration at Hackett and Wood — you can see there will be a separate left and right turn lane from Hackett to Wood," Preston said.
"There is a median between them to separate out those lanes so that adequate sight distance is provided. There's also a proposed right turn lane from Wood to Hackett.”
Additional plans include replacing a culvert that will allow lane widening, and improved access to Route 22.
Preston said the site owner would be willing to work with tenants to ensure that trucks headed into and out of the facility would adhere to acceptable routes to limit traffic.
But the commissioners and public questioned whether that would work.
'We have to live here'
Commission member Kim Wagner voiced concerns over the potential for noise pollution, requesting an analysis of what level of noise could be expected from the facility, which could result in the need for a variance.
“We have to live here, we’re going to see the impacts.”Easton Planning Commission member Frank Graziano III
When commissioner Hubert Etchison questioned why the location, with its necessary traffic issues, was selected, Haas said it was among the few areas considered, because of zoning and the benefits of the developer cleaning the brownfield site.
Etchison said he particularly was troubled by the idea that the facility could be a fulfillment center, which could drive excess traffic during seasonal peaks, such as around the holidays.
Commissioners raised further questions over traffic calming measures — which could be covered from a $250,000 escrow account set up by the developer — and what truck traffic could do to the city and its neighborhoods.
Representatives for the warehouse provided technical details to showcase their adherence to city regulations.
Board member Frank Graziano III summed up the key point of the matter: “We have to live here, we’re going to see the impacts.”
Public speaks out
Numerous members of the Stop Wood Ave. Warehouse group spoke during public comment. One was Colleen O’Neal, who has spoken out publicly on the matter on several occasions.
Those associated with Stop Wood Ave. Warehouse offered detailed breakdowns of the warehouse project proposal, listing numerous points of contention with city code, environmental regulations and more.
Easton Area School Board member Ghennifer Zando-Dennis read a resolution opposing the warehouse, which was passed at that board's meeting.
Several Lafayette College students also voiced concerns over the environmental impact, and how the warehouse could drive down quality of life for residents and future generations.
Each speaker implored the commission to reject the plan outright.
Attorney Cody Harding, representing Stop Wood Ave. Warehouse, challenged the developer on multiple points, including the need for another traffic analysis, the status of state Department of Environmental Protection permits and even the designation of the proposed structure.
“I know that we've heard from a lot of experts tonight, but I think it's important to remind you that you are all experts as to this town and the city and what it needs, just like everyone here is an expert," Harding said.
"And we know the site. We know what can fit. We know what can't fit. We drive on these roads every day, and so I think we've given you plenty of ammunition to vote this down.
"And I would argue that it's not a use by right, and that was a misinterpretation of the city code."
'Beautiful coalition we built'
After the meeting, O’Neal said that she was pleased with the community’s effort to voice its opposition, despite the frequent delays to the hearing and her take on the developer’s strategy.
"I'm so proud of this beautiful coalition that we've built.”Stop Wood Ave. Warehouse member Colleen O’Neal
“I am satisfied with the turnout tonight," she said. "The one issue is that Scannell continues to punk us down the road, which is why I asked [Easton Planning Commission] not to have two months to think it over.
"So last month, we found out at 11 a.m. the day before that they were not going to show. And they do this specifically to throw us off our game, because they knew that they didn't have their paperwork.
“So that's been going on since November. So that all being said, to still have this many people turn out and show up for their own community and the generations to come, I am so thrilled.
"I'm so proud of this beautiful coalition that we've built.”
O’Neal said Stop Wood Ave. Warehouse will continue to meet and discuss the project in anticipation of the July hearing.
