ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Will it be a warehouse?
Or an industrial manufacturing facility?
Or a fulfillment center?
Those questions have yet to be answered to the satisfaction of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission regarding the proposed construction of a 350,400-square-foot “industrial building” in Northampton Borough.
Atlas Industrial is proposing to construct the building at 799 Smith Lane on the 38-acre parcel previously occupied by Greenstar Recycling, which was destroyed by fire in February.
“It isn’t clear what the use is. Is it an industrial building? Is it a warehouse? Is it industrial manufacturing?"Sunny Ghai, member, LVPC Comprehensive Planning Committee
At the LVPC Comprehensive Planning Committee meeting Tuesday, board members were insistent the developer be more transparent as to the exact type of building it plans to construct.
“It isn’t clear what the use is,” committee member Sunny Ghai said. “Is it an industrial building? Is it a warehouse? Is it industrial manufacturing?
"When you look at what’s surrounding it — schools, residential, and having to go through surrounding roads before you get to the facility — there’s a lot of missing information from the developer.
"Without knowing, it could be a lot worse than we think.”
Plenty of parking
The site features existing industrial properties that would be demolished.
Also proposed at the site are construction of 307 parking spaces, a loading dock and trailer storage spaces.
The parking breakdown is as follows: 210 passenger vehicle parking spaces, 51 dock spaces for truck loading and 46 tractor-trailer parking spaces.
The size of the tractor-trailer parking and dock spaces are recommended to be lengthened to about 80 feet to accommodate connected tractor-trailers.
“With so many parking spaces … the intent could be a fulfillment center or some other manufacturing center.”Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Comprehensive Planning Committee member Bob Elbick
Committee member Bob Elbick raised a figurative eyebrow at the amount of parking spaces in the plan.
“With so many parking spaces … the intent could be a fulfillment center or some other manufacturing center,” Elbick said.
The key difference between a warehouse and a fulfillment center lies in their primary purpose and the range of services they offer.
Warehouses prioritize long-term storage of inventory, while fulfillment centers focus on short-term storage and the complete process of picking, packing and shipping orders directly to customers.
Wording 'could be imperative'
The LVPC’s review emphasizes the need for coordination with the state Transportation Department regarding signage on local and state roads.
Additionally, commissioners recommended including stronger language in the review addressing the proximity of the facility to schools in the Northampton Area.
They cited the inexperience of teenage drivers and the risk of accidents.
Recommended was signage on the access drive and Smith Lane, directing trucks to Horwith Drive toward Nor-Bath Boulevard.
“Does this board have thoughts on changing the [staff review letter] language from imperative to essential [with regard] to interaction for truck and school traffic?” LVPC Chairman Christopher Amato said.
“There could be an accident there. The wording, more than essential, could be imperative.”
