It appears the developer who was planning a major warehouse construction project in North Manheim Township is backing off the idea. And he’s blaming “vicious and ugly” opposition to it as the reason.
In a letter obtained by The Canary this week at the North Manheim Township Planning Commission meeting, a letter purportedly written and signed by William Aiello of Crossroads Commercial Development LLC, Lemoyne, indicates that plans for a “mixed-use” construction project on land that’s zoned residential-agricultural are off for now.
“From the beginning, it was our hope that the community would ultimately decide that the economic benefits from our project would outweigh the negatives, and the community would ultimately support it,” Aiello writes.
The letter was given to The Canary and another media source – which also published an article on it – by members of a group known as Stop 61 Warehouses, which has been very vocally opposed to the proposed construction project, through a Right to Know request. The letter is dated Jan. 15, 2025.
This project called for at least one massive warehouse to be constructed on land near the current site of the Schuylkill Racquetball Club off Route 61. The project also proposed a building to possibly house professional offices.
Those opposed to the project say the farmland that would be sacrificed should remain as it’s zoned. Neighbors feared living next to a potential massive warehouse. And there were other concerns regarding truck traffic, infrastructure and public safety issues.
In order to place such a project on land zoned residential-agricultural, an overlay zoning district was floated as an idea to get the project green-lighted.
“Of course, we always anticipated that there would be concerns about our project from the community. We do not take legitimate concerns lightly and we were looking forward to and were preparing to work with your community and our future neighbors closely and productively,” Aiello writes. “This is why, frankly, we have been taking our time to bring this project to any public meetings.”
Through Thursday night’s Planning Commission meeting, Aiello or anyone from his firm has not addressed the public regarding the proposed warehouse project. All information regarding the project has been relayed to the public from township supervisors and other officials. Conversely, nearly every public meeting in North Manheim Township since learning of the proposed project has been well-attended by at least 50 people vehemently voicing their opposition.
Aiello says they’re essentially to blame for his company saying they’re backing away from their plans.
“Unfortunately, a group from your community is already fighting against us and we have not even had a chance to present our plans yet,” the letter reads. “Did we expect opposition? Yes. But did we expect things to get this vicious and ugly so quickly? No.”
Aiello concludes by saying he had hoped for a chance to present the plans he had to the public.
“Unfortunately, we have not been giving this chance,” he writes. “Given how extreme things have already gotten and given that we do not have a good sense for how much support there might be for our project in your community, we have come to the conclusion that pursuing this project any further would no longer be productive and, for that reason, we are no longer planning to meet with the community or submit plans at this time.”
Township supervisor chairman Wayne Bowen did not return a message regarding the letter cited here.
Melinda Deibert, of the local activist group, tells The Canary regarding the letter from Aiello and his backing down from the proposed project, “We’re cautiously optimistic but we’re not going to let our guard down.”
Deibert believes Aiello or his firm may try to make a play for other nearby land for a similar project in the future.
Aiello could not be reached for this article.
ALSO READ:
- North Manheim Residents Plead Against Proposed Warehouse Project
- North Manheim Residents Tell Supervisors to Reject Proposed Warehouse Project
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