A large tract of land in Upper Mount Bethel Township that currently represents 2% of the township’s forest and farmland could soon be the site of an industrial park.
On Thursday, representatives from River Pointe Logistics Park presented conceptual plans of what could be in store for a large tract of land bordered by River Road and Marshfield Drive.
The development group purchased the 725 acres for $17,050,000 in September, according to Northampton County property records.
More than 150 people listened to developer Lou Pektor and associates describe what the scope and economic impact of the project could be.
The conceptual plan presented would build up to 13 buildings totaling 5 million square feet on the property.
The developer’s general counsel Marc Kaplin said the site is 1.5 miles from Interstate 80, which would be accessed from River Road, then across the Portland/Columbia bridge into New Jersey.
“It doesn’t pass a single residence,” Kaplin said.
Pektor said the group would rather build manufacturing facilities than warehouses. Manufacturing jobs bring higher paying jobs and would generate double the tax revenue for the township, he said.
The group is planning to pay $20 million for road and bridge improvements and $20 million into infrastructure like water and sewers for the site, Pektor said.
Warehouses would not need that level of infrastructure, Pektor said. Recouping the invested money will require the group to build and sell to manufacturers, he said
“We can’t afford to just put warehouses on this property,” Pektor said.
Jake Terkanian, a marketing data consultant, said the group is looking to sell to businesses in the food and beverage, manufacturing, retail, automotive, distribution, and e-commerce industries.
Route 22 and Interstate 78 are the “economic engine for Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic states,” according to Terkanian. As that corridor gets built out, the trend will be to move closer to I-80, which makes the project site an attractive option for manufacturers, he said.
Real estate consultant Paul Scheuren said the tax revenues from the industrial park, once fully built out, could generate $1.1 million to $2.2 million annually for the township.
That would be a 30-60% increase from current tax revenues, Scheuren said.
People who made comments and asked questions after the presentation did not seem impressed with the concept.
Resident Joe Kazarda said trucks will not all drive straight to I-80 but will travel on already congested local roads.
“You guys don’t live here,” Kazarda said. “You’re going to put up this monstrosity and we’re going to have to deal with it."
Resident Bob Gerwig said the presentation only highlighted the positives of development but did not address negative impacts of traffic, pollution and increased demands on the school district from workers’ families that would move into the area.
Members of the community have indicated they want the township to remain rural and not be overdeveloped, according to resident Richard Wilford-Hunt.
“Surveys have shown this is not what the community wants,” Wilford-Hunt said.
Kaplin said that the development is allowed regardless of residents’ opinions. The developers will comply with all state and local laws.
“What we are proposing is zoned for this site,” Kaplin said.
Members of the Martins-Jacoby Watershed Association asked to be included as development plans progress. Kaplin said the group will be willing to meet with the association.
John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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February 28, 2020 at 11:49PM
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Plan revealed for 5M-square-foot industrial park in Slate Belt. Residents not happy. - lehighvalleylive.com
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