Politics & Government

L. Saucon Planners Support Rezoning Area Near Landfill

In front of a large audience, the Lower Saucon Township Planning Commission voted 3-2 to recommend support for a zoning map change that could pave the way for an expansion by IESI Bethlehem Landfill.

After about two hours of impassioned public comment from both IESI Bethlehem Landfill supporters and opponents, the Lower Saucon Township Planning Commission voted 3-2 Thursday night to recommend that the township council support proposed changes to the zoning map in the Applebutter Road area.

The changes would pave the way for the proposed western expansion of the landfill, which was first outlined in February 2012, and which the township planning commission sided against almost a year ago.

Referencing that decision, commission member John Noble announced at the start of the meeting that, in his view, the facts haven't changed.

"I don’t have a change of heart," said Noble, who along with chairman John Landis ultimately voted to oppose the rezoning recommendation.

Commission member Craig Kologie, however, argued that "industrial choice is the right use there."

Kologie, who was the only planner to support a rezoning recommendation in September 2012, said "economic issues…[have] to be part of that decision."

That statement prompted commission solicitor Linc Treadwell to remind him and other members that their duty is to consider planning and zoning matters—not matters of economic interest.

Yet matters of economic interest kept coming up.

A number of IESI Bethlehem Landfill employees who were in attendance at the meeting told commissioners that they fear losing their jobs if the landfill isn't allowed to expand.

Landfill district manager Sam Donato said recently that, without an expansion, the facility has a lifespan of only several years.

And several businessmen who count the landfill among their customers touted its benefit to them, their families and their employees.

Landfill attorney Maryann Garber told commissioners "a lot has changed" since they voted against recommending rezoning in 2012.

She said IESI has worked with township consultants to address the numerous health and safety concerns raised by residents, and that "it was determined…by those experts that there were no issues...."

Garber also argued that the area being considered for expansion was "historically zoned" light industrial (LI), which it would have to be changed back to.

Residents such as Kareen Bleam, of Steel City, however, told planners that historically the landfill was nothing like it is today.

IESI has operated the landfill, which opened in the 1940s, since 1999.

Bleam, who said she purchased her property in 1968 and "knew the dump was there," said back then it was a much smaller operation that primarily served local residents.

"We had no intentions of that dump getting as big as what it did," she said. "We don’t want them to close up but we don’t want them taking our land.... There are nice houses over there and I don’t think they should be wasted."

Gene Boyer, also of Steel City, said that because the landfill would be expanding onto a steep slope, the township should be concerned about the potential for a "washout" similar to what recently occurred at the Chrin landfill in nearby Williams Township.

Lower Saucon Township councilwoman Priscilla deLeon, who spoke as a resident, called the recommendation to rezone the land an example of spot zoning, which she said is illegal.

In the end, it was the opinions of planners Scott Kennedy and vice chairman Tom Maxfield—both of whom changed their "no" votes from almost a year ago—that mattered.

"Things have changed," Maxfield said.

The next step in the lengthy rezoning process will be a public hearing about the proposal in front of Lower Saucon Township Council on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Audion room at Saucon Valley High School.


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