Proposed Walmart on Route 309 Gets 1-Year Extension

The North Whitehall Board of Supervisors granted Walmart a one-year extension on a highway occupancy permit Monday for the retailer's proposed site on Route 309 in Schnecksville.

The permit is for the storm sewers that would occupy the right-of-way during construction of the proposed Walmart, south of Old Packhouse Road.

Board Vice Chairman Steve Pany said Walmart had delayed building because of the economy.

Several residents in the audience asked why Walmart was "pushing" to build a store nearby on Route 145 and Birch Dirve outside Walnutport in Lehigh Township

"I haven’t heard that it's a push," Pany said. "They are always evaluating prospective alternate sites."

Others in the audience said they heard Walmart delayed the North Whitehall store because the new wastewater treatment plant hasn't been built yet.

"I haven’t been told that," Pany replied. "We made them [Walmart] fully aware of where we're heading. They were fully comfortable with that, but they werent able to commit to a time frame of when they could begin," he said.