Supervisors OK waiver for baby formula manufacturer
Officials say the waiver is only for the process, not to circumvent any ordinance requirements
The Exeter Township supervisors unanimously approved a land development waiver for an 8,000-squarefoot addition to ByHeart, a groundbreaking manufacturer of baby formula.
Founded in 2016, the company has recently been on the country’s radar for being one of only five formula producers in the U.S. during a formula shortage and has been the recipient of a $1.75 million grant last year through a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program from the Wolf Administration.
More recently during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in April, Gov. Tom Wolf announced another $8.25 million investment in the company at 61 Vanguard Drive.
The land development plan will allow the company to expand with a canning line and dry blend area, and is expected to add 50 jobs.
The ByHeart formula produced at the $21.6 million facility is made with local organic grass-fed milk and will also be a boon to Pennsylvania agriculture, officials said.
According to company officials, the waiver is needed due to time constraints as the process could take four to 12 months to complete.
Township Engineer Joe Rogowsky said the waiver is only for the process.
“The planning commission as well as the staff in our office recommends that a waiver would be only for the process, not to circumvent any of our ordinance requirements,” Rogowsky said. “The applicant would still need to meet all zoning and all applicable requirements as well as stormwater and so forth.”
Supervisor David Hughes gave a stern warning, although he voted in favor of the waiver.
“I know we’re going to listen to the company, but I’ll tell you this is how we keep getting in trouble by shortening the process, by ignoring the process that we have in place and quite a few times we end up with problems,” Hughes said.
Company attorney Matthew McHugh responded to Hughes comment.
“I think most people are aware of what I’ll call the infant formula crisis shortage in the country and internationally right now,” he said. “When that came about and we were asked to help out and received funding to expand our operations, we truncated the project to focus on the existing property at 61 Vanguard.
“And it’s really a two-part process. One is the warehouse edition, which is only 8,000 square feet, which is the land development portion that we’re talking to you about this evening and asking for a waiver of that process. And then after that is completed, we have to go through and do the internal renovation, which is a building permit process before we’re fully into operations, so while I understand Mr. Hughes’ comments and concerns, I think there are some unique circumstances here which warrant the waiver of land development in this situation.”
The motion to approve the waiver was contingent on monthly reporting and inspections.
In other business, the board voted 4-1 to approve a zoning recommendation that would allow Northstar United Methodist Church to use two rooms at the former Fox Theater to conduct religious programming. A church is not currently a permitted use within the commons zoning district.
Boscov’s owns the building and leases the other theater rooms to Reading Civic Theater.
David Hughes voted no but did not give a reason.
The board also voted 5-0 to advertise for bids for the second phase of the Perkiomen Avenue streetscape project.
Board members were previously concerned about the lack of cost transparency from previous boards and former Township Manager John Granger.
Township Zoning Officer Will Brugger put together cost savings suggestions to quell concerns.
The township received $2.9 million in grants to continue improvements along Perkiomen Avenue, with a match of $866,595.
Supervisors also ratified an agreement with Hamilton and Musser of Mechanicsburg to create policies and procedures for the township at a cost of $28,000.
The land development plan will allow the company to expand with a canning line and dry blend area, and is expected to add 50 jobs.