A proposed warehouse overshadowed agenda items during the Dec. 4 Bethlehem Township Commissioners’ meeting.

The current proposal for 1600 Freemansburg Avenue, which is allowed under current zoning regulations, is scheduled for a vote by the board Jan. 15, 2024.

A few residents spoke out during courtesy of the floor, voicing concerns and opposition to the proposal.

“If we are not careful in our planning, Freemansburg Avenue and William Penn Highway will look like Whitehall Township’s MacArthur Road,” said Frans J. Berkhout

He pointed out that no one spoke in favor of this project during Nov. 28 Planning Commission members, other than the developer, Trammel Crow.

Traffic issues on Freemansburg Avenue, both congestion and speed, were raised as a concern by more than one person.

Diane Rudolph told the board, “If the zoning is not serving the health and safety of the citizens of this township, then why are we sitting here doing nothing and continuously approving dangerous projects?”

In other news, Bruce Hilshizer of HRG presented an update on the Stormwater Capital Improvement Plan.

He explained, “Two years ago, the community established the stormwater utility. We had met with a cross section of the community, had stakeholders that identified needs in the community and established a budget, etc. Part of that was establishing a stormwater five-year capital improvement plan.”

Hilshizer indicated several projects meeting Pennsylvania’s Department of Environment’s Pollution Reduction Plan were examined, including flood mitigation ones.

There were four areas of focus:

Easton Avenue and Santee Road “Phase 1” is ready to move on to Phase 2 due to upgrades to improve flood mitigation and pollution reduction.

For Walnut Street, “Phase 2” costs have come down.

Sculac Road and Farmesville Road have seen movement but not Ohio.

PRP Phase 2 is not needed for this five-year permit term. The new cycle starts in 2024, although the requirements set out for PRP have not been announced. “Two years ago, we were saying about $30 million of projects to be done. Looking at the projects now, they are less in part because of not doing PRP Phase 2,” Hilshizer said.

He concluded the projects are now in the $20 million range.