PALMER TWP., Pa.- A proposed zoning change that could impact the future of one of Palmer Township’s last remaining farms will be the subject of a public hearing on Monday.

The Charles Chrin Real Estate Trust has submitted a challenge and a curative amendment to the township, requesting that the land off Main Street be rezoned from Rural Agriculture (RA) to North End Business (NEB).

The 41-acre parcel butts up against a more than 50-acre parcel in Upper Nazareth Township that’s also owned by Chrin.

The company wants to build ten industrial buildings on the combined property, Palmer Township Planning Director Craig Beavers told 69 News. According to Beavers, the parcel on the Palmer side is one of only five remaining farms in the township.

The combined 91-acre site on Tatamy Road / Main Street (the name of the road changes when traveling from Upper Nazareth to Palmer) sits between Nazareth Area Intermediate School and a residential neighborhood to the west, and an industrial corridor with several warehouses and distribution centers to the east. 

Chrin has argued that the parcel has become reverse spot-zoned; Upper Nazareth recently re-zoned the 50-acres on its side as part of an “Assembly and Distribution Zoning District,” where, according to township code, light manufacturing and warehousing and distribution are permitted uses.

Earlier this week, the Palmer Township Planning Commission voted 4-3 against the curative amendment. 

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) reviewed the proposal last month and also did not offer its support. One commissioner raised concerns about the number of sinkholes that have opened in the area in recent years.

Earlier this week, PennDOT crews finished filling seven sinkholes near Main Street and Carson Court, about a half-mile away from the proposed development site. 

The Palmer Township Board of Supervisors will have the final say over whether the zoning change is granted.

The public hearing on Monday, March 16 begins at 7 p.m. at the township municipal building at 3 Weller Place.

Beavers told 69 News he expected the hearing to stretch well beyond one night.Â