Upper Macungie residents decry trucking facility

About 100 Upper Macungie Township residents packed the municipal meeting room Thursday to protest a Zoning Hearing Board decision that could allow construction of a massive trucking facility on Ambassador Drive.

Old Dominion Freight Line wants to build a 44,000-square-foot, 80-dock facility near the intersection of Mill Road on 14 acres zoned for light industrial use.

The zoning board decided at its Oct. 8 meeting that the facility fit the distribution/warehouse category, rather than the trucking terminal category. Old Dominion now will ask the Planning Commission at its Nov. 19 meeting to schedule a conditional-use hearing for the project.

Sunny Ghai, who lives near the spot where Old Dominion wants to build, explained his and other neighbors' concerns in prepared remarks that focused mainly on traffic hazards.

Ghai said there have been 29 accidents at Ambassador and Mill roads in the recent past, in addition to numerous others on the "curvy and hilly stretch of road between Hilltop and Hickory and between Hickory and Snowdrift roads, including a fatal motorcycle accident."

"Local residents already experience extensive traffic delays on Tilghman Street where the road goes from four-lane to two-lane just prior to Snowdrift and continues the rest of the way to Route 100. This conversion is already a safety hazard and additional truck traffic will only make the problem worse," he said.

Ghai spoke further about unsafe roads and the negative effect on the character of the neighborhood and on the neighbors' quality of life.

Board members appeared sympathetic to the residents. Vice Chairman Samir Ashmar said when he read the zoning hearing transcript that it was clear that comments from residents who attended were cut off at a certain point by Blake Marles, who represented Old Dominion.

But the supervisors could not make any official statement of support until the Zoning Hearing Board issues its decision, which could be up to 45 days after the Oct. 8 hearing.

Furthermore, the board of supervisors cannot overturn any decision made by the quasi-judicial body. Relief would have to be sought in Lehigh County Court.

Supervisor James Brunell told the protesters that it would have been much more effective had they made their comments to the Zoning Hearing Board. He suggested they deliver their comments before the planners, where they can be added to the official record.

Township Solicitor Andrew Schantz suggested the group chip in to hire a lawyer who will represent their concerns.