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The proposed PennEast Pipeline route through Bethlehem
Township cuts through land that's currently vacant but where developers are
building or have proposed major residential and commercial complexes. (PennEast
Pipeline Co. route map)
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The route of the PennEast Pipeline natural gas pipeline
through Bethlehem Township crosses mostly vacant land, but if developers get
their way, it will be turned into some of the densest development in the
township.
PennEast's proposed pipeline cuts through the Madison
Farms complex, where 800 homes and a major commercial plaza are under
construction along Freemansburg Avenue near Route 33. It also runs through land
where an 11-building office park, a 265-home senior housing complex and a large
commercial plaza including a movie theater and hotel have been proposed.
"Maybe they saw the open land and didn't realize
they were actually being developed," township Manager Melissa Shafer said.
The pipeline will require a 50-foot setback where
buildings and other structures can't be built, said Patricia Kornick,
spokeswoman for PennEast Pipeline Co. LLC.
Bethlehem Township officials couldn't say how the setback
would affect the proposed developments, but the pipeline route cuts through the
heart of both the Madison Farms and proposed movie theater complex. It appears
it also would affect some of the senior housing proposed at Green Pond Country
Club.
Bethlehem Township is drafting a new ordinance that would
allow the township to manage the pipeline's location through the powers of its
zoning ordinance, Shafer said. The township is considering a 900-foot setback
from any structure, Shafer said.
"I don't think we're going to stop the pipeline -- I
don't know if that's feasible -- but we're looking at ways to protect our
residents," Shafer said.
The township commissioners will likely consider a first
reading of the ordinance at their Dec. 1 meeting, Shafer said.
Shafer said it's likely too early to say how the pipeline
might affect specific development projects because the route through the
township has already changed in the three months since it's been proposed. The
route originally didn't go east of Route 33 and it cut through land owned by
St. Luke's University Health Network, which is no longer does, Shafer said.
The route's alteration to include land east of Route 33
has a big impact on Charles Chrin Cos., which has proposed a complex including
an 11-screen movie theater, four-story hotel, gas station, restaurant and a
bank at Route 33 and William Penn Highway. The current pipeline route would cut
vertically through the heart of the property, which is the former V-7 Golf
Driving Range.
Chrin's director of business, Roger Mellin, declined to
comment on the proposed pipeline route Wednesday.
Shafer said she didn't know why the route change was
made. Kornick, the PennEast spokeswoman, said many alterations have already
been made to the route based on input from local officials and affected
landowners.
PennEast isn't necessarily targeting vacant land, but is
seeking the most direct route with the smallest impact on the community and
environment, Kornick said.
The pipeline's installation won't mean the land can't be
developed, other than along the 50-foot easement, Kornick said. Many farmers
continue to plant crops atop pipelines, she said.
"People can continue to use the property as they
normally would before the pipeline, except for ... trees or structures on top
of the pipeline," she said.
Route 33 and Freemansburg AvenueView full sizeRoute 33
and Freemansburg Avenue is seen in February 2012 in Bethlehem Township,
Pennsylvania. The proposed PennEast Pipeline Co. LLC natural gas line would
cross near the intersection.Express-Times File Photo
The proposed route almost bisects the Madison Farms
property, where a commercial plaza, including a ShopRite, is already under
construction. The developer also has approvals for 837 homes on the site.
A Columbia Gas pipeline already runs through the Madison
Farms property, but the PennEast Pipeline is a high-pressure pipeline, which
would have a larger impact radius if it exploded, Shafer said.
Madison Farms officials didn't return a call for comment
Wednesday.
The pipeline also would cut through part of the land
north of Green Pond Country Club where developer Traditions of America is
seeking to build 265 senior homes. Company officials declined comment on the
proposed pipeline Wednesday.
The pipeline also would cut through land north of the
state park-and-ride on William Penn Highway where an 11-building office park
has been proposed. The pipeline would only affect a small portion of the
property that was going to remain undeveloped, so it shouldn't impact plans,
developer Lou Pektor said.
"It's going through the northern sector ... we were
keeping that as open space," he said. "It won't affect our plans."
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