Hanover Township wants to know more about the FedEx hub proposed for Allen Township.

The township called a special meeting Feb. 26 seeking to receive input from the community.

Residents from Hanover and Allen townships attended the meeting. Hanover Solicitor Jackson Eaton set the priorities for the meeting and asked council members to express their concerns.

Township Engineer Fredrick Hay reported that a local traffic study was submitted, but there is no indication that any of the issues were addressed in the latest documents reviewed by Allen Township or PennDOT.

Hay outlined his requests, including determination of how maintenance would be handled for the expanded roadways, who will pay for planning costs incurred by the township, how sewage will be handled and the location of funding to handle additional costs from increased traffic. Hay also noted stormwater drainage issues remain unresolved.

Councilman Bob Heimbecker expressed concern regarding traffic at Grove Street. Based on published traffic studies, Heimbecker inquired if municipal and residential vehicles would be able to gain access to Airport Road from Grove Street. A traffic control light to allow access would be a favorable solution, but Hay indicated the traffic numbers would not justify a light.

"PennDOT determines the need for a light based on the ratio of traffic at the intersection," he said. "There will never be enough traffic on Grove Street when compared to Airport Road to justify a light."

Heimbecker also asked if the township is willing to allow the development to move forward, considering the added traffic burden.

Eaton said the township may not be able to stop the project.

"The land on both sides of Willowbrook Road is owned by the airport and they are most likely not going to object to expanding the road," he said.

Eaton indicated Willowbrook Road is now a township road and there is little to prevent the state from taking it over if necessary. Race Street and Airport Road are state highways. Hay said plans have not been released concerning improvements to Race Street and Airport Road.

There are rumors, however, that FedEx may not pay for the improved roads. The company may seek a grant from the state.

According to Hay, there are 24 pages of comments to the proposed plans.

"I don't think this is close to approval," Hay said.

Han-Le-Co Fire Chief Robin Yoder presented his assessment of the project from the viewpoint of the township's fire department.

"We have the manpower and experience to handle any additional problems that the project may bring," he said.

Yoder said accidents involving trucks and automobiles can be handled, even with an expected increase in events. Mutual aid from surrounding fire departments is available to assist Han-Le-Co firefighters in the event of multiple emergencies. Yoder indicated a need for a custom fire truck.

"We're estimating the cost around $750,000," Yoder said. "It would be best if FedEx picked up the whole cost, but they should at least share a portion of it."

Han-Le-Co maintains a fleet of custom trucks that serve dual purposes.

"We went to the custom trucks because it's a more efficient use of our limited manpower," Yoder said.

He confirmed FedEx representatives were in touch with Han-Le-Co to discuss fire safety.

Yoder and Diane Szabo, a Hanover Township resident, spoke about the nature of an existing bus stop on Race Street.

"Asking people to cross over a five-lane road [proposed for Race Street] to catch a bus would be nonsense; they can barely cross the street now at rush hour," Yoder said.

Szabo would like to see a designed bus stop off Race Street and public transportation extended to the FedEx hub.

The estimated 50,000 gallons of added sewage projected from the complex is not considered a problem. Capacity is available at the Catasauqua Wastewater Treatment Plant. Sewer lines to the treatment plant pass through Hanover.

Several Allen Township residents, all opposed to the hub, were in the audience and addressed council. Kim Pierce-Napa reported no approvals have been requested by the developer to the FAA for a building close to the radar tower at the Lehigh Valley International Airport.

"The radar is a 200-mile radar and is used by various agencies and the military," she said. "FedEx will need FAA approval for the building because the radar cannot be blocked."

Preliminary plans show a portion of the building at 53 feet in height. Napa also emphasized only 282 new jobs are being created at the site, not the 800 that FedEx has said will be created.

"Most of the people will be relocated from other FedEx sites in the area," Szabo said.

Mike Givey of Allen Township cautioned council to look at the traffic numbers carefully.

"They [FedEx] say most of the traffic will be off hours, but if you look at the study, trucks are leaving the warehouse at morning rush hour and returning during the evening rush hour," he said.

Givey added automobile traffic would be concentrated at rush hour as employees arrive and depart.

John Mattaboni, who is leading the effort to stop the hub, reported he met with state Rep. Julie Harhart, R-183rd, and said the development is outside the purview of the legislature.

Mattaboni said the additional traffic load on Route 22 was not a major concern.

Mickey Philpott, of Allen Township, pointed out congestion on Route 22 will get worse with construction.

"It took two years for the latest improvement and a lot of traffic congestion," he said. "What I heard was that widening of [Route] 22 is 10 years in the future and probably 15 years before it is complete to [Route] 33."

According to Councilman Curtis Wegfahrt, some property may already be purchased for the Route 22 widening project from Airport Road to 15th Street, indicating construction may start sooner

Mattaboni thanked council for listening to the residents' concerns.

"We appreciate the questions you are asking," he said. "We don't get any response from Allen Township about these issues. They all live north of Route 329, so this doesn't impact their quality of life."