South Whitehall commissioners, during their Feb. 20 meeting, granted preliminary approval to IPT Allentown DC LLC for construction of three warehouses on 86 acres along Crackersport and Eck roads.

Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks bisect the area. South of the railroad, on a 57-acre site, the plan shows a 640,305-square-foot warehouse with 136 loading docks, 404 passenger vehicle parking spaces and 176 trailer oversize slots.

Driveway connections are located at Eck and Crackersport roads.

North of the railroad, the plan includes one warehouse at 141,900 square feet with 23 loading docks and a second warehouse at 125,000 square feet with 37 loading docks.

This section indicates 291 passenger vehicle parking spaces and 81 trailer oversize slots.

Several existing residences and accessory structures will be removed from the site.

Alexander Tamerler and Partners Profit Group are the owners.

No zoning relief was required as the parcel is in the Industrial Commercial District.

Community Planner Jillian Seitz of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission provided written comments to township staff on the proposed warehouses.

“The LVPC has concerns regarding the surrounding infrastructure of the area and its ability to support truck traffic of this scale,” Seitz wrote.

She noted the warehouses are anticipated to generate 1,409 trips per weekday, with 133 of those trips at the morning peak hour and 152 trips during the afternoon peak hour. Seitz reported as Route 309 is already a congested corridor, township staff and the developer should meet with PennDOT and the LVPC to discuss solutions for the project’s impact on the area’s infrastructure system.

Seitz noted the proposed development site contains wetlands with small isolated woodlots and scattered vernal pools which serve as habitats for two sensitive plant species.

Commissioners voted 5-0 in favor of the resolution granting preliminary approval.

The applicant was directed to file a final plan application within 12 months.