Warehouse plans are causing concerns in Lehigh County

ALLEN TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPVI) -- A stretch of Allen Township, Lehigh County has been the site of cornfields and horse farms for many generations. But now the construction of warehouses is raising concerns from residents.

Over time, the land started going up for sale. It was re-zoned to include industrial use.

But it wasn't until FedEx recently started construction here for a $335 million facility that Allen Township became a really popular place to do business.

Township manager Ilene Eckhart admits local officials were not expecting this much sudden interest.

"I don't believe... geographic location," said Eckhart.

Now several massive warehouses and distribution centers are going up along this section of Willowbrook Road.

In the end, those projects will cover 6.5 million square feet of land.

Township officials stress that the plans include road widening and environmental safeguards to minimize the impact this will have on local neighborhoods.

Eckhart said, "If it's made completely right depends where you stand. The township feels it's met its obligations under the law."

But many of the people we spoke with, who live nearby, say regardless of how it's handled, these projects will have a profound impact on the community.

In fact, the added noise, truck traffic, and massive construction sites represent the very opposite of why they moved here in the first place.

Resident Russell McLaughlin said, "Did they actually consider us in their thought process, the people who live here, and the people who moved out here years ago to build a community."

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