The planned expansion of a lettuce-growing facility in Banks Township took a big step forward Monday night.

Township supervisors approved land development and subdivision plans that will allow the construction of four greenhouses by Little Leaf Farms in the McAdoo Industrial Park.

Little Leaf already has two greenhouses at the site and says that the addition of four more will make it one of the largest hydroponic lettuce growers on the East Coast.

Chris Sigmon, executive vice president of operations for Little Leaf, said the approval paves the way for the company to purchase 108 adjacent acres from the Pagnotti Coal Co., where the four greenhouses will be built. The firm already owns 76 acres where the other two greenhouses stand.

Sigmon said Carbon County had approved the land development and subdivision plans previously.

The township sewer authority previously approved the firm to hook into the sewer system, and the township zoning board approved two variances requiring a minimum number of parking spaces and amount of paved lot coverage.

Road problems

In other business, Supervisor Chairman William Nice Jr. said the supervisors will be reviewing township roads to see which have to be paved this summer.

Nice said that the state Department of Transportation is requiring the township to install 35 mph speed limit signs on three state roads in Tresckow - Chestnut, Market and West Oak streets.

Tresckow resident Joseph Luchetta said his “quality of life is being disrupted” by neighbors playing loud music at all hours.

He asked if code enforcement could help, but township solicitor John Solt said the township would have to buy and calibrate a decibel-measuring machine.

Nice recommended Luchetta call state police.