Critics like to call warehouses big boxes. Developers like to call them fulfillment centers. Whatever name you use, they have gobbled up much of the Lehigh Valley’s open space. Simultaneously, they’ve increased truck traffic on roads unable to handle the load. Bethlehem Township had to impose a tax hike last year to completely rebuild Brodhead Road, which truck traffic reduced to a washboard. Once Allen Township’s FedEx is in full swing, there will be more traffic snarls and ruined roads. Thanks to some strong advocacy, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) is expected to intensify its review of warehouse plans once its latest comprehensive plan is adopted.

County Executive Lamont McClure derided Lehigh Valley “warehouse proliferation” at NorCo Council’s Oct. 17 meeting. For that reason, he has fully funded open space with $3 million in his proposed budget for next year. But since most open space projects are nowhere near planned warehouses, that’s a very limited solution.

More meaningful is his proposal for the LVPC to intensify its review of warehouse plans exceeding 100,000 square feet. Currently, reviews are triggered for plans in excess of 500,000 square feet. In a compromise, the latest comprehensive plan calls for a review of warehouses exceeding 250,000 square feet.

Even more meaningful are two proposals made by Bethlehem’s Greg Zebrowski, who is the LVPC’s vice chair. Automatic review of warehouse plans will be triggered if (1) they are more than a quarter mile from a major roadway or (2) are outside of designated development areas.

Many townships are also beginning to assess high traffic impact fees to repair the roads damaged by warehouses.