A small crowd attended Monday's Allen Township Planning Commission meeting regarding FedEx's proposed plans to build a $335 million distribution center.

Fewer questions were posed than during previous meetings. Much of the meeting, held at the township fire hall, involved a planning review letter concerning The Rocekfeller Group and FedEx's preliminary and final plan subdivision.

The meeting went smoothly and lasted less than two hours. A meeting previously scheduled for Wednesday evening was canceled.

Planning commission Chairman William Holmes said another public meeting will be held later in May, possibly at the fire hall. Holmes said the planning commission's deadline for the FedEx and Rockefeller plans are June 17, unless the applicants request a continuance.

"We will then vote on the plans, give our recommendations and forward it to the board of supervisors," Holmes said following the meeting.

The five-member supervisors board will render a final decision on the transportation mega-hub, off Willowbrook Road. The next public meeting will deal with a written reply from both The Rockefeller Group and FedEx on technical issues discussed and raised at Monday's meeting, mainly from FedEx, according to Holmes.

Ronald Gawlik, senior manager for The Pidcock Company, Allentown, representing The Rockefeller Group, with Jim Rothdeutsch, led the discussion and took questions for its client. Mark Heeb, of BL Companies, represented FedEX at the meeting.

While Gawlik expressed few reservations regarding township Engineer Brien Kocher's, of Hanover Engineering, comments in The Rockefeller Group's plan submission, the company is seeking waivers, such as sidewalk installation and deferments in phased projects.

Issues discussed involved a requirement for the developer to place signs and measures indicating "No Trucks" northbound on Willowbrook Road consistent with the proposed trip distribution, fencing, road grades and widths, drainage and other matters.

Reviewed plans from FedEx included access easements and fencing, requiring the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority to withdraw the previously proposed 1.144 acres lot consolidation plan prior to the proposed land development, storage of gas liquids and fumes.

Gawlik replied to a man's inquiry regarding public transportation that The Rockefeller Group will present to LANTA.

"This is just a nightmare in my mind," Elizabeth Harding, of Oak Hills Drive, explained regarding truck traffic and the backup of vehicles which will ensure.

"I'm trying to vision what is with the trucks," Harding said.

The commission and developers could provide no answer to Mickey Philpott's question on how Willowbrook Road would be shut down during construction. Another question involved police patrols and the fines it will generate. Holmes said at this time he could not provide an answer as to how much money could be generated from fines.

Holmes also said he could not comment whether Willowbrook Road would be shut down during construction.

Engineers told John Kruse, an amateur astronomer, his concerns regarding lights blocking out the night sky are currently being addressed.

The FedEx megahub will be located on 238 acres and could process as many as 75,000 packages an hour as time goes on and as many as 2,600 vehicles daily.