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Citing shifting priorities within several proposed construction projects, a Bell & Evans official asked Bethel Township supervisors at their July 17 meeting for a time extension for a planned cook plant facility.
Bell & Evans CEO Mike Bracrella requested and supervisors unanimously agreed to provide a time extension request for the preliminary final land development plan for the project until Oct. 9. That approval was one of many on the meeting agenda for the poultry producer.
“You know we were pressing very hard for that to go and as things go, plans change. We still continue to want to move forward with that but we have a couple of other projects that have taken on a higher priority,” Bracrella told supervisors.
He briefly outlined some projects that are now of greater significance. One is planned sidewalk improvements in front of Plant 2 while another is moving a surface stormwater management system on the site. Plant 2 is beside Esther’s Restaurant along U.S. Route 22.
“We continue to move forward with how the sidewalks want to work and we have a plan that (engineer Alex Kinzey) has prepared that we’re going to present to the planning commission next week,” Bracrella said. “And we think it addresses the sidewalk, so we would still like to move forward but that project (the cook plant) is going to slow down compared to where we were.”
LebTown asked after the meeting why priorities have shifted given the prior importance of the Cook Plant but had not received an answer to that question as of publication.
Last winter company president Scott Sechler attended a township meeting and outlined current and future projects the poultry producer planned within the municipality over what he said would be about 10 years. At that time, Sechler said the Cook Plant was a priority because company customers are demanding what he called ready-to-eat products.
The company plans to construct that plant at the corner of Route 22 and Fredericksburg Road. There, the company will prepare foods that are pre-cooked and ready to be heated by consumers in ovens or microwaves.
Bracrella cited weather as a factor in expediting the stormwater plan at Plant 2. More than 10 years ago, the company received permission to build another plant on that site and is planning eventually to move in that direction. In the meantime, they want to address onsite stormwater and parking issues.
“We have an existing stormwater management plan that’s in place from when the original addition was approved, the agreement. And we have our NPDES permit (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) and we are planning to proceed,” Bracrella said. “I think a snag that we have is we feel that it’s important to be able to have inspections and that’s a situation to have a workaround for that. I believe that Alex has addressed all the comments that need to be addressed with the exception of some of the traffic. I think the items are traffic, a page in the agreements coming to the reported plan, closing the escrow, and maybe some of the deciding plans or housekeeping.”
Township engineer Matthew Mack noted that an escrow payment is required for all projects so that if work doesn’t go as planned or an issue arises, the township can remediate the problem to meet the original specifications without cost to the municipality.
Township supervisor Michael Saphore said the company has a great track record and no problems with past projects.
Bracrella said he would be ready to present a letter of credit for the stormwater project at the July 22 meeting of the township planning commission. Mack said the stormwater plan first approved more than 10 years ago would have to be revised since the prior agreement was for a surface stormwater basin system.
Mack emphasized that the company is looking only to address the stormwater issue and not begin construction for an additional plant at Plant 2. Bracrella said construction of the subsurface stormwater system would be a three-month process.
Mack listed and supervisors approved some stipulations on the stormwater project before it moves forward.
“The summary would be all items in my review would be addressed minus the agreement, the amended agreement. That would be at the following supervisors meeting,” Mack said. “You would post the escrow, satisfy the traffic engineer, and secure planning commission approval, and not pull any building permits or any kind of land development prior to recording the plan.”
Bracrella said he was amiable to that, but adding completion of the traffic study could take up to one month. Mack recommended that company officials see if that timetable was acceptable to the planning commission. Bracrella then said the company could have it completed by next week, which Mack said was a better idea.
In other business concerning Bell & Evans projects, supervisors unanimously approved several motions.
They approved a deferral for curbing and sidewalk for a small section of land that runs north of Esther’s Restaurant along Blue Mountain Road until a land development plan for the restaurant property is submitted to the township. Bell & Evans owns the restaurant property.
Supervisors also waived street lights for a planned walking path along Route 22 in front of Plant 2 that will end near the intersection of Legionaire Drive. Kinzey, of Steckbeck Engineering, was asked to explain the proposal.
“We found a solution using solar lights on poles. So we’re going to put lights along the pathway, the whole way in front of the Prologis building, the Spirit of Halloween warehouse. That section of the path will be lit by these 20-foot-tall solar lights, so kind of like pathway lighting,” Kinzey said. “So it won’t be on the road necessarily, but it will be for the path, to keep the path lit at nighttime. And then the rest of the Plant 2 property, all that would remain the same as it is now because that is pretty well lit up there already. So we would only be adding lights along the frontage, and that is on Route 22 where that pathway is going.”
Paul Nolt poultry operation plan
In a separate matter, supervisors passed three motions for a proposed poultry operation.
Paul Nolt plans to construct two 63- by 500-foot poultry operation barns, manure storage of 60 by 100 feet, gravel driveway, gravel paths, and associated stormwater management controls, which would include an infiltration basin.
The pipe would run under Sunset Drive, a municipal road, so township solicitor Andrew Morrow shared conditions for that project.
Supervisors unanimously passed three motions: a land development improvements agreement, dated July 14, a stormwater management agreement and declaration of easement, also dated July 14, and approval for the township to sign the preliminary final land development plan, dated Sept. 30, 2024.
Morrow said it was the Nolt’s responsibility to restore the township’s roadway and the area where work is to be performed on the drainage pipe, apply for a road opening permit prior to performing any work with the drainage pipe, and afford the township an opportunity to appear on site when the work is performed and the right to inspect the completed work.
“In addition, the agreement also makes it clear that the Nolts are solely responsible for any repair costs in the event Sunrise Drive would be damaged as a result of work performed with the drainage pipe,” Morrow said.
Other Bethel Township business
In other business, supervisors voted unanimously to:
- Have the board chairman authorize by signing a new Pennsylvania Department of Transportation application for a Bell & Evans request for a planned sidewalk connection to intersection sidewalk pads at Route 22 and Fredericksburg Road. The application must be signed by a township official.
- Extend the closure of School Drive from July 16 to Aug. 1. That roadway has been closed for the installation of sidewalk curbing, and the extension is to give time for final clean-up of the project.
- Pay C.M. High Inc. $2,227.44 for a road repair estimate for a project at Route 22 and Blue Mountain Road.
- Agree to reimburse Mount Zion Fire Company directly for the small portion of insurance invoices that’s paid by the township on behalf of the fire company. The total of the invoice is $1,790.
- Adopt the Lebanon County Department of Emergency Services Emergency Operations Plan of September 2023.
- Accept the resignation of Kaitlyn Criswell from the pool concession stand.
- Approve the financial report and agree to pay the monthly bills.
- Hire Gavin Bush as a pool lifeguard at $15 per hour and Susan Sweigart for the pool’s concession stand at $10 per hour.
The next meeting of Bethel Township supervisors is scheduled for Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Bethel Township Municipal Building, 3015 S. Pine St., Fredericksburg.
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