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Bell & Evans officials presented an updated tentative plan Tuesday to the Bethel Township Planning Commission for highway improvements around and along the intersections of Blue Mountain and Chestnut Hill roads.
In a separate discussion, Lebanon 22 officials, who plan to place solar arrays on both sides of School Drive on two farms within the township, presented updated plans for required improvements.
Discussion occurred during what was nearly a 2.5-hour meeting about this and several other Bell & Evans projects, including plans for the 241 Blue Mountain Road project, which will see construction of a cold storage and packing plant facilities, new construction at Legionnaire Drive, a sidewalk for the planned Transportation Center, and the Plant 2 expansion project. (Numerous other non-Bell & Evans projects also contributed to the lengthy meeting session.)
Alex Kinzey, engineer with Steckbeck Engineering, show proposed highway improvements for Blue Mountain and Chestnut Hill roads in Bethel Township. (James Mentzer)
Blue Mountain and Chestnut Hill roads
The concept that was presented, with more concrete details to come next month, entails the widening of Blue Mountain Road, installation of curbing and sidewalks in frontage areas on properties owned by the poultry producer along Chestnut Hill Road, and shaving the hill and raising the highway on the south side of Blue Mountain past the second of two Chestnut Hill intersections.
The hill shaving and highway raising will improve sight distances for drivers on Blue Mountain Road and traffic stopped at the Chestnut Hill Road intersections.
Mike Bracrella, chief operating officer at Bell & Evans, initially said the highway improvements would occur in 2027 and be completed by Dec. 31, 2028.
However, planning commission chairman Dale Snader said he’d hoped that work would occur earlier. Bracrella said the Sechler family, who owns Bell & Evans, is committed to the proposed highway improvement plan, and added that he would be comfortable saying the road work could be completed by the end of 2027 but not by the end of 2026.
Darmland at 241 Blue Mountain Road is slated to be the site for a cold storage and packing facility for Bell & Evans. As part of a decision to make major improvements along Blue Mountain and Chestnut Hill roads, the company would use this entrance for vehicles traveling to and from the facilities. (LebTown file photo by James Mentzer)
“We feel like we could be moving next summer on this work. H&K, our excavation contractors, are taking a good look at this. They’re estimating road closure in the neighborhood of three months,” Bracrella said. “That was a little surprising to me, but I’m going to put that out there. I don’t know how painful that will be, but it would be very difficult to work around this to not just close the road. We’d obviously figure something out for those residents, and we could work around the residents. It’s primarily the cutting of the grade that’s going to take the majority of the time.”
The entrance at the intersection of Blue Mountain Road at U.S. Route 22 is wide enough to accommodate 53-foot trailers, and the company would utilize the property entrance at 241 Blue Mountain Road following implementation of the highway improvement plan.
Company officials had previously said that entrance would only be used in emergency situations. Following the meeting, township engineer Matt Mack told LebTown the requested use of that entrance is part of the negotiations to implement higher level improvements along this section of highway in the township.
A traffic study previously conducted by Bell & Evans revealed several options with the least expensive being the placement of four-way stop signs at the two intersections. However, that option was not acceptable to planning commission members. A concern about traffic turning south off Chestnut Hill Road was among issues with that proposal.
Mack urged the board to get the agreement for the highway improvements in writing, which was an idea company officials supported.
The intersections are Chestnut Hill and Blue Mountain roads are non-linear and a hill at the northern intersection sits on a hill, which limits sight distances at both intersections. As part of new construction at 241 Blue Mountain Road, Bell & Evans has agreed to make highway improvements along this section of highway in Bethel Township. (LebTown file photo by James Mentzer)
“Nothing against them, but we didn’t have an actual – we had a very arbitrary agreement for the improvement of Chestnut and Blue Mountain Road that went on for a while. So if there’s a way we can come up with a suggestion to prevent that from happening, that would be good,” said Mack.
Commission member Bruce Light said thoughts on the best way to improve the roadway may differ between company and township officials.
“Half the problem is no one agreed on what we were gonna do. We just said, we’re gonna improve it. Well, your idea of improving it is different from my idea. But if we have something that we all looked at and agreed on, then, and some kind of timeline for it,” he said.
Company officials were asked to come back with a full highway improvement plan in February.
Bethel Township Planning Commission members listen to a presentation from Bell & Evans concerning planned highway improvements to Blue Mountain and Chestnut Hill roads. (James Mentzer)
241 Blue Mountain Road project
While three waivers concerning the 241 Blue Mountain Road construction project were tabled, a time extension request to March 16 for the preliminary/final land development plan was granted.
Those waivers focused on improvements along Blue Mountain Road in proximity to the new cold storage and packing plants, and were tabled until the formal highway plan is submitted. The highway plan will have to be passed as a recommendation of the planning commission to the township supervisors for final approval.
Company engineer Alex Kinzey noted during discussion that the company would like to begin pouring footers this spring.
A graphic shows the location of the Blue Mountain 241 project, which would be the construction of a new cold storage and packing facilities at this location. (LebTown file graphic)
Legionnaire Drive project
Planning commission members voted to accept the preliminary/final land development plan and also tabled three waiver requests until a future meeting for improvements tied to the construction of a nearby Cook Plant. The construction of the Cook Plant is in response to customer demands for pre-cooked meals that can be easily reheated.
Transportation Center sidewalk
It was noted that discussions for a planned sidewalk in cooperation for this project are continuing. An issue for the sidewalk is that it would cross Sherman Williams’ property, and talks concerning an agreement for the walkway are ongoing between the two companies.
The sidewalk is required under existing township ordinances and is tied to the poultry producer’s plan to construct a Transportation Center along Fredericksburg Road and U.S. Route 22. As part of Tuesday’s meeting, the commission also approved this project’s revised preliminary/final land development plan.
The 5-foot-wide walking path will be built along the south side of Main Street, heading east along the north side of U.S. Route 22 toward the American Legion in the PennDOT right-of-way. Bethel Township is holding a check for $75,000 in lieu of the cost of the sidewalk and, if Bell & Evans builds the sidewalk, the check will be returned.
In another matter concerning the Transportation Center, LebTown asked Bracrella about apparent construction occurring there. He replied that the company is installing a drainage system beneath the surface for water discharge onsite.
Construction equipment for what is a planned Transportation Center for Bell & Evans work the land at the site to prep the ground for the installation of a stormwater drainage system, according to company officials. They planned center for fleet maintenance is located along Fredericksburg Road and U.S. Route 22. (James Mentzer)
Plant 2 expansion
The planning commission also approved a preliminary/final subdivision and land development plan for the Plant 2 expansion project, specifically regarding the addition of parking spaces. Plant 2 is behind Esther’s Restaurant along U.S. Route 22.
Years ago, planning commission officials agreed to expansion at this location as part of the original land development plan. As part of accepting the parking expansion plan for this project, the planning commission tabled six waiver requests from Bell & Evans.
Lebanon 22 solar farms
The two solar farms are to be located on both sides of Route 22 and School Drive, and the township, as it does for all projects, requires improvements to nearby infrastructure.
As part of a long discussion about the solar array project, the commission approved a time extension request to March 24 and two waiver requests while tabling two others.
The accepted waiver requests are for a 25-foot right-of-way on both sides of U.S. Route 22 along School Drive while waiving right-of-way requirements along Route 22. (Commission member Christine Spangler abstained from voting on the waiver requests since she is a PennDOT employee and Route 22 is a state road.)
Various aspects of this project were discussed at length. Solar company officials repeatedly noted that required improvements regarding widening the roadway, especially on the south side of School Drive, are difficult due to existing utility poles.
A map shows the planned location of two solar farms on the north and south side of U.S. Route 22 and School Drive in Bethel Township. (LebTown file graphic)
The poles are “within a few feet of the road,” and it was stated that First Energy is reluctant to move large transmission towers. A company official said moving them is a “three- to five-year process and costs multiple millions of dollars to get them relocated.”
Widening the roadway to 20 feet was suggested, and company officials were asked to prepare and present a plan at next month’s meeting.
At the Nov. 25 commission meeting, Lebanon 22 company representatives were told the board would like to see an additional right-of-way installed and a 2-foot widening of the road on both sides of School Drive. Additionally, there would be the installation of curb and sidewalk and staggered lighting on the north side of School Drive.
Planning Commission board reorganizes
Prior to the start of the meeting, the planning commission held a reorganization meeting. Dale Snader was selected as chairman, Bruce Light as vice chairman, and township employee Kathy Sheroky as recording secretary.
Other planning commission business
In other business, the commission unanimously voted to:
Rescind a previously approved letter to PennDOT concerning Fireman’s Park and a highway occupancy permit. The commission will await a revised letter to be submitted for recommended approval by the board before sending the new letter to township supervisors for final approval.
Receive a letter from Mack about data centers concerning discussions with other municipal leaders.
Accept the Christ Lantz’s subdivision/stormwater management plan for a project involving a third dwelling.
Grant a time extension for the minor subdivision and land development plan to Feb. 20 for the Jeff Brubaker project at 2288 S. Pine Grove St., Fredericksburg.
Approve the minutes of their Dec. 16 meeting.
Next meeting
The Bethel Township Planning Commission meets the third Tuesday of the month. The next regularly scheduled meeting is on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. in the conference room of the township municipal building, 3015 South Pine Grove St., Fredericksburg.
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