Planners Oppose Rezoning Land Near Landfill

Correction: An earlier published version of this article indicated that the planning commission vote to oppose the rezoning of land near IESI Bethlehem Landfill was 5-1 against the rezoning. This article has been updated and corrected to reflect the fact that the vote was actually 6-1. 

A decision by the Lower Saucon Township Planning Commission to oppose IESI Bethlehem Landfill's rezoning request for property it owns near its Applebutter Road facility was met Thursday with loud applause from residents who've rallied against any rezoning and the expansion of the landfill it would make possible.

The 6-1 vote came after more than an hour of emotional testimony by many residents of Steel City, who have repeatedly told both council and the planning commission that they fear a landfill expansion will jeopardize their quality of life.

“We have well water. We’re very concerned about that,” Dan O'Loughlin told planners.

He said he also worries about what types of waste could be deposited by IESI at an expanded site in the years to come.

There is currently a small amount of radioactive waste stored in isolation at the landfill, as environmental regulators work to implement a plan for its removal.

The demolition waste came from the future site of downtown Allentown's hockey arena and was mistakenly brought to IESI Bethlehem Landfill in January.

"(The landfill's) plan is to make the most amount of money and not care about us and how it affects us," O'Loughlin said.

Another Steel City resident, Judy Rudolph, said she and others who live near the landfill should not have to bear a burden that could include decreased air quality, possible property damage and possible health issues on behalf of the township as a whole.

“Why should the residents of Steel City and Applebutter Road be put at risk in an effort to create the revenues to pay down the debt that this township is obviously in?" Rudolph asked planners.

As planners sat quietly and listened to the testimony that was being given in the dimly-lit Saucon Valley High School auditorium, it became apparent that frustration among some speakers was mounting.

The commission has heard testimony on the issue of rezoning the property near the landfill since the spring, and a variety of proposed rezoning maps had been drawn up for its consideration.

"Why won't you listen to your residents?" vocal landfill expansion opponent Matt McClarin asked. "Why won't you listen to us?"

"I try to talk about the planning issues and you totally ignore me like I’m crazy," he said.

Commission solicitor Linc Treadwell then interjected and said he thought that characterization was unfair, and commission chairman John Landis agreed.

"We haven’t even made a decision yet and you’re already telling us what it is," Landis said. "We’re still listening."

A decision, however, soon followed Landis' statement.

Planning commissioner John Noble was the first member of the group to break rank by publicly declaring that his mind was made up regarding the issue.

"I am against the rezoning," he said. "But it’s not because of how the landfill runs their business. I personally feel it’s because it’s an inappropriate rezoning of a perfectly zoned area."

Commission member Tom Maxfield--who is also a member of Lower Saucon Township Council--said his visits to the area that would be affected by the rezoning helped convince him that a "no" vote was the right one.

For example, he said the area around Skyline Drive "has a real charm to it."

"I don’t really want to see this area ripped open," he said.

Commissioner Craig Kologie was the only member of the panel to support a recommendation to council to consider rezoning the area, saying that because it's already largely industrial in nature rezoning it "merits at least further consideration."

After the commission voted 6-1 against such a recommendation, Landis clarified for members of the audience that "the vote is that we recommend it to council that there be no zoning change."

Cheers and applause followed.

Council could still embrace the idea of rezoning the landfill-owned property, but it is relatively rare for it to disregard a planning commission's recommendation.

Lower Saucon Township councilwoman--who spoke at the Sept. 27 meeting as a resident--said that as a resident, she opposed a rezoning of the property.

"You need to respect our zoning and we do not want a zoning change," she told the commission.

The next Lower Saucon Township Council meeting will be held Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 7pm in Lower Saucon Town Hall.