PALMER TWP., Pa. – The Palmer Township Board of Supervisors began a substantive challenge and curative zoning amendment hearing Monday night.
The application, offered by the Charles Chrin Real Estate Trust, challenges the township’s Rural Agricultural (RA) zoning designation for a 41-acre Chrin property located north of Main Street and Tatamy Road. Chrin is seeking to rezone the property to North End Business (NEB).
The hearing involves one of five remaining farms in Palmer. The company wants to build 10 industrial buildings on the property which is combined with a 50-acre parcel in Upper Nazareth Township also owned by Chrin. The Trust’s argument is that the parcel is reverse spot-zoned after zoning updates in 2023.
The company wants to build ten industrial buildings on the combined property, Palmer Township Planning Director Craig Beavers told 69 News.
On Monday night, Chrin argued the parcel is appropriate for industrial zoning due to its proximity to the Route 33 corridor, existing transportation infrastructure and access to public water and sewer.
Attorney Marc Kaplin, representing Chrin, began his presentation by reciting a lengthy chronology involving the property’s zoning history. Legal counsel representing the township opposing Chrin argued chronology is not justification for the zoning change and that the current RA designation is to be considered “valid.”
Erik Hetzel, a certified planner, served as Kaplin’s first witness. Hetzel testified that the property’s setting and surrounding land use was not consistent with the RA designation. He noted that just because the property in question could be used for agricultural purposes, in and of itself, that is not a sufficient reason to keep it that way.
The hearing is scheduled to resume May 4 with Hetzel’s cross-examination.