Controversial warehouse project gets closer to breaking ground in South Middleton Township

A controversial 2-million square foot proposed warehouse project could be up and running as early as next year after clearing yet another hurdle in South Middleton Township, though it will still need final approval from three municipalities.

Township supervisors approved 40 conditions for the warehouse's conditional use permit, as well as an agreement for the company to do well testing pre- and post-construction, with the developer agreeing to pay for an contamination clean up that may occur.

The warehouses are proposed on 175 acres at Allen Road and Ritner Highway, with an entrance on Allen Road. The project is expected to provide about 900 jobs, the company has said.

The proposed project crosses the lines of three municipalities — Carlisle borough, Dickinson Township and South Middleton Township — meaning that all three need to sign off on each step of the process.

Goodman North American Partnership Holdings LLC previously received approval from all three municipalities, with the last, South Middleton, approving a conditional use permit in June.

Dickinson approved a conditional use permit and conditions on May 18. Carlisle also approved the preliminary plans June 10, with conditions that include a 50-foot spacing for street trees and additional landscaping recommended by the borough's planning commission, as well as two waivers for stormwater management that will need approval across all three municipalities, according to documents supplied by the borough. The borough requirements also ask for 5 percent of the total land be dedicated to the borough for public recreational use.

All three municipalities will need to review and approve preliminary and final land development plans for the project before construction can begin.

It's already been a lengthy process, said Tom Faley, township supervisor. It's the only project that he can recall in more than 20 years as a supervisor that crossed three municipal boundaries.

Bryan Gembusia, chairman of the board of supervisors, said the developer wanted to get started on the project construction before the end of the year, and by next year, there should be something on the ground.

 "That all assumes no one goes to court," Gembusia added.

If that happens it could take years for the development to move forward.

Residents of Dickinson Township, which is home to 70 percent of the project, fought against the project, collecting petitions to put an end to it through the township. A rezone, which cleared the way for the warehouse project, was approved in March 2014. The next month, Carlisle Mayor Tim Scott cast the vote deciding to rezone and clear the way for the project in the borough.

Source: Penn Live