A presentation for the new community yard waste site layout was given by Dave Albans, township engineer at the Aug. 4 North Whitehall Township Board of Supervisors meeting.

The township is moving forward with plans for a new and expanded yard waste site, designed to improve traffic flow, safety and overall efficiency for residents and public works crews.

The proposed facility will be located off Old Packhouse Road near the fire station and will feature a one-way traffic pattern with a guard shack at the entrance.

According to Albans, the new layout will allow cars to circulate in a loop, eliminating bottlenecks.

“We’ll have room to stack approximately 30 cars if needed, which should prevent backups onto the main road,” Albans said.

The design also includes a 100-by-60-foot pole barn type building with three bays, allowing equipment storage and year-round operations.

The building may be developed in phases depending on project costs.

Township officials said the space could house snowplows and other seasonal equipment, reducing the need for rented storage.

The yard waste area itself will nearly double in size from about 24,500 square feet at the current site to roughly 49,000 square feet.

Storage bins will be provided for mulch and trimmings, while a stormwater basin will be constructed to manage runoff.

Security measures, including fencing and gates, are planned, with the possibility of adding cameras.

A restroom facility will also be built for staff, using an on-site well and septic system.

While generally supportive, some officials expressed concern about whether the site will be large enough to meet long-term demand.

“I’d rather go a little bit bigger and look 10 or 20 years down the road,” Dennis Klusaritz said, pointing out the township has additional acreage available if expansion is needed in the future.

The project is currently under environmental permitting review.

Final details, including water access, heating for the building and possible fuel storage for township equipment, are still under discussion.

The plan has been submitted to the planning commission for review in August.

No board action was taken at the meeting, but officials indicated the facility will be a major investment in the township’s infrastructure and services.