The final meeting dedicated to the application by the Lehigh County Authority for a conditional use to construct a wastewater treatment plant in North Whitehall was at hand.

Testimony for the hearing was closed Sept. 10. This meeting was to give attorneys for each side the chance to give closing arguments before township supervisors.

Attorney Jim Preston, representing the LCA, went first.

He said many of the documents presented by opponents during the testimony were irrelevant.

Both expert witnesses, he stated, testified they believed there would be no adverse impact off site from the plant.

A wastewater treatment plant cannot be built that will work under all circumstances. Under normal conditions, the plant will work, he said.

Preston said the use of the property satisfied all the requirements of the township's ordinance.

Attorney John Roberts, representing the citizens group, The Voice of the Jordan, responded by saying the testimony of the residents brought to light the type of neighborhood where the plant will be constructed.

There are residences, the Jordan Creek and roads that could be abused by heavy truck traffic.

He also cited Lowhill Township concerns that were communicated to the board.

The proposed use is a conditional use, not a permitted conditional use.

There was no commitment from the LCA there would be odor mitigation, Roberts said, and the LCA did not prove it could comply with the ordinance.

He offered several sections of the zoning ordinance as reasons for denial of the application.

Roberts said eventually there would be an odor problem and asked what the remedy would be after the plant is constructed.

His interpretation of the ordinance was the application should be denied.

Township Solicitor Lisa Young then reviewed the zoning ordinance listing each section pertaining to the conditional use application and asking supervisors if it was their opinion these sections had been complied with in this application.

She said if the board were to approve the application, the LCA would need to file a land development plan, appear before the planning commission and then supervisors.

After all the ordinance sections were discussed and the board was satisfied the application met the standards, Young asked if they were ready to vote on the application.

Supervisor Steve Pany said they would like to deliberate for a few minutes before voting.

Pany then made a motion to approve the application with certain conditions.

Supervisor Mark Hills seconded the motion, with all voting in favor.

The conditions placed on the application were:

·While under construction, all traffic to the site will access from Old Packhouse Road via KidsPeace;

·Once the plant is operational, all truck access will be from Old Packhouse Road through Kids-Peace;

·Once open, any truck traffic from Jordan Road will be limited to a maximum 3-ton gross vehicle weight;

·The headwall and blower of the plant will be enclosed;

· A 6-foot high berm will be constructed along Jordan Road with a buffer screen planted on top of the berm;

·Chemicals are to be added at all pump stations to prevent sewage from going septic;

·All sludge removed from the site must be placed in enclosed trucks;

·No outside waste from septic haulers is allowed in the plant; and

·Any proposed use along Route 309 shall have the option to be served by an alternate wastewater treatment plant without surcharge or penalty.

After the conditions were read, several residents offered comments.

Resident Earl Supplee suggested placing a sign on the gate noting the truck weight limit.

Preston was asked if he found the conditions acceptable.

He said he could not speak for LCA Executive Director Aurel Arndt but he thought they were reasonable.

Preston was ordered to put in writing whether the conditions were acceptable and have it in the township office within 10 days.

If one or more of the conditions are unacceptable, the application would be denied.