A nearly one million-square-foot warehouse is one step closer to going up along the Delaware River in Falls Township.
At their meeting Tuesday evening, the Falls Township Board of Supervisors approved preliminarily land development for LPC Morrisville LP.
Advertisements
The company is aiming to build a 973,200-square-foot warehouse on a 96-acre sit at the former Solvay and part of the Rogers Foam Corporation tracts along East Post Road and Biles Creek at 2300 Pennsylvania Avenue in the Morrisville section of Falls Township.
With the supervisors preliminary land development approval, the developer will have to return to get final approval before construction can begin.
The planning commission, an advisory body, last year did not recommend the recommend the plans after the developer requested variances related to wetlands, woodlands, and stormwater management.
Advertisements
The logistics facility plan has proposed taking away some existing wetlands and creating a larger space for wetlands on another section of the land, the developer told officials late last year.
The developer said at the time that they worked with federal and state officials to create a plan that improves the habitat and adds tidal wetlands along the river.
Advertisements
The developer plans to file for a federal waiver to allow them to make changes to the wetlands.
The property is home to the cricket frog, which is not very common in Pennsylvania.
Eric Moser, a representative for the developer, said a portion of the property is capped and is not to be disturbed due to an existing environmental covenant on the site.
Advertisements
The area is presently blocked off with a fence and has been remediated of contamination, according to project engineer Victor Grande.
Supervisor Brian Galloway expressed positivity about the development.
Advertisements
“It’s a difficult area,” Galloway said. “This looks like a good use for the property.”
Traffic has long been a concern when the project has come before township officials.
Advertisements
To deal with traffic, developers intend to enlarge South Pennsylvania Avenue in the area of the warehouse, officials said.
Furthermore, separate truck and passenger car access would be provided to the warehouse. Route 13 would be the truck route, followed by Tyburn Road and South Pennsylvania Avenue. The direction for trucks leaving the site would be to turn left and travel down South Pennsylvania Avenue. The location would be accessible to passenger vehicles from both the East Post Road and South Pennsylvania Avenue driveways, officials said.
Advertisements
No tenant has been booked for the proposed warehouse, but several companies have reportedly shown interest.
In the past, it has been expressed that the project could bring up to 500 jobs to the site and bring in $963,000 in real estate taxes to the Pennsbury School District, $41,000 in municipal taxes, and $33,000 in yearly local services tax revenue.
The project is separate but not far from the massive Keystone Trade Center logistics warehouse center that is being constructed.
Advertisements
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
