At a second hearing at the Northampton Area High School’s auditorium Sept. 21, East Allen Township Board of Supervisors and residents kept up a barrage of questions concerning a warehouse development proposed by Rockefeller Group. The site is located on property owned by the airport along Weaversville Road behind the under-construction Fed- Ex Ground warehouse.

Lori Fox, who lives on Halbea Street, across from the proposed development, had a series of questions on how traffic would be handled. Her home is part of a group of homes in a residential development. Fox expressed her concern that truck traffic would be turned loose on Weaversville Road. Rockefeller Group representatives stated at this hearing and at the prior hearing that all truck traffic would travel down Willowbrook Road, to Race Street, onto Airport Road and then to Route 22. What has been mentioned by the developers is an alternative that would allow vehicle access to Weaversville Road, which would be used primarily by employee vehicles. The developer stated trucks would not be allowed access to Weaversville Road.

“Trucks will go by the GPS, not any road signs,” Fox contended. “Who is going to enforce the restrictions? We don’t have local police.”

She also received agreement from Clark Machemer, the local project manager, that truck traffic could not be restricted because Weaversville Road is a state road.

Cascade Road offers an alternative connection, but Machemer deferred any discussion on alternates until the developers were further along in the design process. He did note that he was aware of the road, but it was not under consideration as a primary means of travel.

Machemer did offer to make improvements on Weaversville Road. A request to improve Weaversville Road is a long-standing request from locals.

Fox quoted official correspondence from a geological engineer indicating the potential for sink holes on the property. She also queried Machemer about stormwater runoff. Generally, the runoff is controlled under the state’s stormwater management plan, he explained.

“The local ordinances require that only 60 percent of the area could be covered with buildings and parking,” he said.

Open space around the building lets water filter back to the underground aquifer.

Georgiann Hunsicker asked about an agreement by Rockefeller Group with Amazon for the site. Machemer contended there is no set tenant for the warehouse. Once a tenant is determined, the tenant will have an impact on how the warehouse is designed.

“We can’t talk a lot of details about the site because we don’t have approval to change the zoning,” Machemer said.

Several residents referred to a comment by Allen Township that additional traffic on Radar Road from the proposed site has not been approved.

Many questions concerned traffic, but the developers have not introduced their traffic consultant as a presenter. Attorney Joseph Fitzpatrick, who represents the developers, asked that traffic questions be held until the traffic consultant is introduced.

Resident Joseph Renko said he is convinced property values will decline with the development and asked if the developers intended to reimburse owners for their loss. Machemer contended property values will not decrease.

Robert Fatzinger received an estimate of 200 to 400 employees at the warehouse. After the meeting, there was some discussion among residents that multiple warehouses could be on the site, which could increase the employee estimate.

Several people voiced concerns over light and noise pollution. Mark Heeb, a consultant for the developers, explained that lighting technology and buffering berms required by the township should mitigate most of the problem.

The height of the building is dependent on the tenant, but Heeb indicated a height between 35 and 50 feet is typical for a warehouse.

Changing the zoning from agricultural to light industrial has the support of Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and the township’s planning commission. Robert Lalo pointed out how these recommendations are not binding on supervisors.

Heeb’s presentation was designed to show how the project fit into the township’s recent comprehensive plan. Chairman Roger Unangst challenged Heeb that the plan does not encourage warehouse developments. Heeb countered that warehouse space is preferred over office space or retail because it keeps traffic controlled.

Residents who are actively opposed to the development claimed to have distributed 500 fliers. About 120 people attended the meeting.

“Some of the people I talked to said they thought it was a done deal in favor of the developers,” Hunsicker said.

Another hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in the NAHS auditorium, 1619 Laubach Ave.