Truck traffic continues to drive Lehigh Valley’s long-term plans
Any conversation about the future of the Lehigh Valley can’t seem to get away from trucks.
On Wednesday night, members of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission hosted its second public comment section on its draft comprehensive plan. The report spells out the organization’s strategy for how the Lehigh Valley should focus its development and infrastructure improvements over the next 25 years in order to compete with other markets while protecting the quality of life residents enjoy.
With only 14 people in attendance, the presentation took a personalized approach at times as members of the Planning Commission welcomed questions and detours in their presentation to address concerns from the audience. While those questions touched on topics such as environmental protections and the expected emergence of 5G technology and automated vehicles, they also acknowledged the evergrowing tide of tractor-trailers already at the Lehigh Valley’s doorstep.
“We can’t keep building these warehouses,” said Northampton County Councilman Bill McGee, one of three county officials in attendance. “I’m worried about the region.”
And while the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission has a plan for that, it’s up to municipal leaders across the Lehigh Valley to put it in action.
When communities come up with zoning and land use plans in isolation, state law requires them to provide for every possible use within their boundaries, said Becky Bradley, the commission’s executive director. These requirements have led developers to build enormous warehouses in rural communities where existing infrastructure cannot reasonably support them.
“I don’t think any of us are out there hugging tractor-trailers,” Bradley said.
These municipalities need to work together to develop joint municipal zoning ordinances, which would allow municipalities to limit development they don’t want. Some areas, like Nazareth, already have these in place. As an example, Upper Nazareth Township could prevent any new warehouses in its borders if it amended its zoning because those zones already exist in Lower Nazareth Township, she said.
The comprehensive plan included subtler changes that would limit warehouses and protect green spaces throughout the region. Surveys conducted by the commission found preserving farmland and open space is one of the highest priorities of local residents. Steering development to downtown centers and along highway corridors would deter warehouses in areas that can’t support them while creating other positive benefits.
Having more people in one place would make public transit options more feasible. Because LANTA is federally prohibited from running a deficit, it’s tough for the transit organization to run bus routes more frequently without completely abandoning some areas. But demand won’t grow if LANTA doesn’t run more bus routes. With more people clustered together, public transportation could work more efficiently, connecting more people along the major routes between the Lehigh Valley’s cities.
Municipalities could encourage those efforts by redesigning their downtowns — adding walking trails and bike lanes along major routes, Bradley said. Those changes would help remove cars from the highways, promote healthier lifestyles and attract foot traffic to shopping districts. With clever planning, communities could improve their stormwater runoff by designing water basins to function more like park ponds along walking areas, Bradley said.
The comprehensive plan also includes the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study’s draft long-range plan, a list of projects the region hopes to address in the next 25 years. A recent cut in PennDOT funding projects a loss of $380 million to the Lehigh Valley over the next 12 years, which will force the Valley to rethink projects that are already slated for construction. That could mean delaying, scaling back or canceling road and bridge improvements that have been awarded funding, Bradley said.
Officials with the study still need to vote on what projects will be eligible for funding on the long-range plan, but Bradley emphasized that just because a project is listed doesn’t mean it will be addressed.
“You’ve got to look at it more like a menu,” Bradley said. “Some things you’re just not going to order.”
The draft comprehensive plan can be found on the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s website, www.lvpc.org. The public is encouraged to provide feedback on the plan online or by writing to the Planning Commission at 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109.
Morning Call reporter Tom Shortell can be reached at 610-820-6168 or tshortell@mcall.com.