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Bethel Township supervisors learned at their Sept. 10 meeting that Bell & Evans is ready to move forward with construction of its Cook Plant, also known as its Ready-to-Eat production facility.
Township solicitor Andy Morrow reviewed the company’s plan to construct a 120,000-square-foot cook facility with a 65,000-square-foot future expansion, a truck parking area with separate entrances accessible from Fredericksburg Road, and five stormwater management facilities.
In other business, the board also approved a legal review of state law regarding spot zoning for a separate proposed Bell & Evans project.
Cook Plant project
Company officials shelved plans for that plant for at least a year, when other projects took precedence.
This plant will serve the ready-to-eat market of consumers who want pre-packaged meals that are easily prepared in the oven, according to statements made by company officials at past township meetings.
Read More: (Feb. 2025) Bethel Twp. officials grant waiver request for Bell & Evans cook plant project
“It’s an 18.37-acre tract of land at the corner of state Route 22 and Fredericksburg Road. This was the case where Bell & Evans was seeking (waivers) when that was in front of us several times and when I just finally recommended that we go ahead and table it until they’re ready to move (forward),” Morrow said. “In exchange for those waivers, Bell & Evans agreed to construct an approximately one-mile pedestrian walkway along the north side of 22.”
However, problems with the sidewalk, which will be located across from the planned cook facility on the north side of Route 22, arose.
“Unfortunately, Bell & Evans did have some issues for a while with property owners’ granting easements, but fortunately at this point those issues seemed to have been resolved,” Morrow said. “So again, the board tabled this matters sometime ago until there was an off-site sidewalk agreement that would need to be in place due to the waiver requests.”
Morrow reminded supervisors that the on-site building plan was approved by the township planning commission and is waiting for supervisors to review and approve or reject it.
“I drafted land development and stormwater agreements. They’re going to have to be tweaked very slightly, but they’re 98, 99% in place at this point. In terms of the sidewalk, we all call it the offsite. I will not try to attempt to explain the progression of this over the last year, year and a half,” Morrow continued.
Morrow told the board that company officials plan to build an approximate 70-foot bridge across the creek and add solar lights along the pathway.
“To make this project work, Bell & Evans has been able to bypass all of the neighboring properties that they don’t own, with the exception of the Legion, for which an easement will be required,” Morrow said. “There is a verbal agreement between the Legion and Bell & Evans, and I can tell you that there is a drafted agreement. Matt (Mack, township engineer) and I just looked it over briefly. We didn’t see anything wrong with it, so Bell & Evans is going to be providing that draft to the Legion for their review and hopefully for their signature. But that definitely is pretty far along at this point.”
Morrow highlighted next steps, noting the poultry producer’s land development plan and stormwater agreements need to be tweaked. He also noted the company must obtain financial security for the on-site cook facility project, adding they had filed a letter of credit with the township, as well as financial security for the sidewalk project, and he reiterated the need for a written easement agreement with the Legion, whose property the sidewalk will traverse.
“And finally, Bell & Evans and the township will need to enter the much long-awaited sidewalk agreement in exchange for the waiving of the curbing of the sidewalk requirements. I’ve been working on revisions to that agreement,” he added.
Morrow said all requirements are moving along and should be completed in the next few weeks, adding that the company plans to seek a time extension from October to November at the next meeting of the planning commission.
181 Market Drive project
Concerning a separate project for construction of a grain mill and second hatchery operation at 181 Market Drive, supervisors gave approval for the township solicitor to review whether or not a zoning change requested by company officials is spot zoning.
“This is the project that currently is not zoned to allow this by special exception or by use by right,” said Mack. “So this was the request to ask the township to rezone it to ag.”
Read More:
Mack noted the planning commission had reviewed it and some residents had aired concerns at the August planning commission meeting.
“The planning commission ultimately determined that because of questions that came up from the audience that they would have Andy delve into if it is spot zoning or not spot zoning and how is it appropriate for the area,” Mack said.
The Bethel Township Planning Commission had received a zoning change request but took no action at its August meeting, instead asking supervisors to direct the township solicitor to research legalities surrounding spot zoning.
Morrow told supervisors that his review would “take a little bit of time,” adding he’s not going to be rushed to make a final determination. He did not indicate how long the review process might take.
Other Bell & Evans construction projects
Various construction projects by Bell & Evans dominated a majority of the engineer’s report, and the board unanimously voted to:
- Grant a time extension for the Plant 2 Eastern parking expansion project from Oct. 5 to Dec. 11.
- Recommend releasing $1,171,062.48 and retaining $45,573.92 until the items are identified in the inspection report for the 2025 plan for the Plant 2 planned expansion.
- Table a financial security request for the processing plant.
- Recommend releasing $2,803,691.85 and retaining $2,239,002.71 for the Transportation Center, which is about 40% completed.
Other board business
In other business, supervisors unanimously voted to:
- Pay the following monthly invoices: general fund, $108,090.94; street lights, $3,581.16; parks and recreation, $1959.07; building fund, $240.
- Give a time extension request to Palmyra Homes from Sept. 13 to Dec. 26 for a mobile home expansion project.
- Hire Nature’s Accents Landscaping to build a retaining wall for the baseball backstop at a cost of $6,880.
- Provide up to $100 to the recreation committee to purchase supplies for Fall Fun Day on Saturday, Sept. 26.
- Have the second annual Spring Fling event on May 15, including the addition of a car show.
- Deposit $5,750 and schedule work for the large pavilion flooring project with Haglee’s Decorative Coating Inc., following a contact change. The total price of the project, which was previously approved, is still $11,500.
- Reject a waiver request from Isaac Simmons, 154 Airport Road, to allow an extension for the widening or creation of a new driveway or a portion thereof. The motion included receiving an exhibit plan from the applicant.
- Provide a permanent stormwater easement agreement for 196 and 200 Airport Road, Fredericksburg.
- Spend $600 for bi-yearly personal computer maintenance with SMRTGUYS LLC in 2027.
- Close Chestnut Hill Road for water main extension installation on Sept. 14-25 on the condition the township receives a road opening permit. Exceptions to road closure restrictions include emergency vehicles, school buses and local residents.
- Release $106,801.38 held in escrow to Northern Lebanon School District for its field house and concession stand project and continue to hold $18,501.42.
- Announce that a resolution will be presented at the November meeting to hire Garcia Garman & Shea PC as certified personal accountants for the township’s 2026 audit.
- Announce a request from Mount Zion Fire Company to apply for an Local Share Account Grant through the township for a new heating system at the fire station and facility renovations to create an emergency shelter at the station.
- Fulfill the 2027 minimum municipal obligation for the township’s pension plan totaling $52,302.
- Announce Trick-or-Treat on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 8 p.m.
- Accept the Fredericksburg Sewer & Water Authority and financial reports.
- Ratify a temporary easement for access to a property at 160 Forrest Drive.
- Approve the Aug. 13 meeting minutes.
Next meeting
The next meeting of township supervisors is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. in the municipal building, 3015 S. Pine Grove St., Fredericksburg.
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