Lehigh Valley Planning Comm'n Exec Director Becky Bradley provided Northampton County Council with an annual update at Council's July 3 meeting.
It reviewed nearly 1,000 plans throughout the Lehigh Valley. It also examines grant applications, proposed municipal ordinances and plans, sewage and solid waste plan reviews, stormwater projects, traffic impact statements and permit reviews.
Bradley noted a surge of 3,519 residential units proposed last year, of which 2,323 are apartments. This year, 375 housing units have been proposed through April, of which 97 are apartments and 211 are townhouses.
In 2024, 6 million sq ft of commercial development was proposed in 2024, of which 4.7 million is industrial and 4.1 million is warehouse. Nearly 1 million sq. ft in commercial development has been proposed this year through April, of which nearly 0.5 million is industrial and 317,000 is for warehouses.
Bradely said that the market for industrial development is changing as companies consolidate and the amount of available space declines. She expects this decline to continue, especially as municipalities have adopted more stringent zoning practices.
She also touted three multi-municipal plans - the Northern Lehigh Plan (which includes municipalities in both Lehigh and NorCo); the River Central Plan; and the Slate Belt Plan (to coordinate zoning)
9 comments:
“In 2024, 6 million sq ft of commercial development was proposed in 2024, of which 4.7 million is industrial and 4.1 million is warehouse.”
I realize that simple math is not a democrat strongpoint, but I sincerely hope that this error is yours and NOT the Planning Commission’s.
Bohare to 7:46. As I understand, the warehouse is actually part of the industrial development.
BO @ 8:35 - Thanks for the clarification. It’s an oddly worded sentence, but I understand it now. Thanks again.
Did any of the Slate Belt council members ask what they are doing to help bring industry to the Slate Belt
Warehouse development will continue as long as there is suitable land. Recent projects are building on less-than-prime real estate, including quarries and sites not near major roads.
There are ups and downs but this region’s allure to warehouse developers is the location and that doesn’t change.
The 866,350-square-foot warehouse planned for Freemansburg Avenue, on land in Freemansburg and Bethlehem Township, will be at the site of a former dump and quarry.
There will be more to come.
Jeff Ward
Math is not the strong suit of a lot of people regardless of political affiliation. I would guess that it's 6 million total commercial & industrial of which 4.7 million is industrial and 4.1 of the industrial is warehousing (as warehousing is considered industrial).
So, when will thousands of dollars on drawings for bringing rail service back to the Lehigh Valley be asked for?
8:35, That's on me. I should have been clearer. But as you correctly observed, I am a Democrat.
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