Supervisors Blast Ocean Spray Distribution Plan

Upper Macungie Supervisors want to talk with Ocean Spray officials about a recent deal the bottling company struck with a Weisenberg Township-based distribution firm.

Supervisors passed a resolution Thursday night asking the township solicitor to reach out to Ocean Spray officials to address potential new traffic issues on Upper Macungie roads.

Ocean Spray is currently building 225,000-square-foot bottling facility on 44 acres between Schantz Road and Route 100.

"This is what happens when developers shove something down your throat with timelines," said supervisor Sam Ashmar. "It comes back down to bite the board."

NFI of Cherry Hill, N.J., will be the tenant for a new 980,000-square-foot facility in Weisenberg Township. This building will be used as the future distribution center for a worldwide food and beverage cooperative that includes Ocean Spray.

That, according to supervisors, will place additional truck traffic pressure on the intersections of Boulder Drive and Schantz Road and Route 100 and Schantz Road.

"They told us [the trucks] would make a left turn onto Boulder and Industrial, travel down Industrial to Grim Road and Nestle Way and utilize warehouses in that direction," Ashmar said. "They also said they would utilize rail lines."

But the recent deal with NFI is sure to increase truck traffic throughout major thoroughfares in Upper Macungie, which irks supervisors.

"There was a lot misrepresentation to the Planning Commission, the Board of Supervisors and probably the zoners," Ashmar said. "We have to get a hold of Ocean Spray and insist they help us upgrade these intersections that don't have the capacity for this truck traffic."

Ashmar said the township got "a lot of push back and pressure from various groups" when traffic concerns were addressed. "Things got moved along to accommodate people."

"They owe us an explanation," said Ken Molony, the township's Director of Community Development. 

The $110 million project, which had the backing of Gov. Tom Corbett's office, is expected to bring 165 jobs to the Lehigh Valley.