Citizens Group Will Appeal a North Whitehall Sewage Plant Vote

A group of citizens who oppose the location of a proposed sewage treatment plant in North Whitehall Township will go to court to appeal a waiver that township supervisors granted to Lehigh County Authority Tuesday night.

The conditional-use waiver was the first hurdle the LCA had to clear before its proposed treatment plant, capable of handling 200,000 gallons day, can be built.

Attorney John Roberts, who represents the citizens group - The Voice of the Jordan- said Thursday that his clients will definitely appeal the decision in Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas.

“Legally the LCA can go ahead with a land development plan while we are appealing but they risk losing money if the court of common pleas reverses it,” said Roberts.

LCA asked township supervisors for the waiver in May and public hearings on the matter have been happening ever since. The LCA wants to the build the plant, which would initially treat 62,000 gallons a day, close to an existing treatment plant on KidsPeace property near Jordan Road.

It would potentially serve KidsPeace, the yet-to-be-built Walmart, Lehigh County Community College and the Schnecksville Fire Company. Nearby residents would have an option to connect but would not be forced to do so.

LCA’s victory came with a list of conditions added on by supervisors. Those conditions addressed traffic concerns raised by opposing residents who were concerned about truck traffic on rural roads. Conditions regulating potential odor concerns and landscaping were also included.