L. Saucon Council Worried About Proposed Bethlehem Buildings

Lower Saucon Township Council members Wednesday expressed concerns about large commercial buildings proposed for construction on the fringes of the township.

The warehouses would be located on Gilchrist Drive in a redevelopment zone within the city of Bethlehem, but could generate truck traffic on township thoroughfares, including Easton Road.

“These are not little shacks,” said council president Ron Horiszny, who said the largest proposed building would be 295,000 square feet in size.

According to a Feb. 12 Bethlehem City Planning Commission agenda, an “applicant proposes construction of a 175,000 sq. ft. office/manufacturing facility on a 61.16 acre lot” at 1019 Gilchrist Drive. “Future building expansions of 250,000 sq. ft. and 295,000 sq. ft. are also outlined on the plans.”

The area in which the buildings would be constructed is zoned “IR,” or Industrial Redevelopment District.

Councilwoman Priscille deLeon said she is concerned about the proposed buildings, which she described as potentially being “sandwiched” next to the township.

She added that she recalled an earlier promise from city officials that “there was never going to be an access (from the industrial park) to Easton Road.”

“Of course that’s not true,” said council vice president Tom Maxfield, who added that he too remembered hearing that assurance.

A resident of Ridge Drive, which intersects with Easton Road, also expressed concerns about the possibility of increased truck traffic near his home.

“This is kind of scary for me,” said Tim Ostein. “I travel that road probably twice a day.”

Council voted 4-0 to send a letter to Bethlehem Assistant Planning Director Tracy Samuelson expressing their concerns about the project, and requesting that the township be kept informed of progress as it moves forward.

In other business at the meeting, councilman David Willard provided an update on possible commercial development in the township.

He mentioned that local home builder John Blair has expressed an interest in constructing an office building next to his company’s current headquarters on Rt. 378 in the township.

Willard said he and other officials are also scheduled to meet with “some brewers” who are looking for a location to open a brewery.

Although meetings of this nature have always taken place, Willard said the township is now trying to be “a little bit more proactive” about scheduling them.

He credited the recent work of the township’s economic development task force–and now citizens committee–for helping to ignite that new drive.