Kidder Township is moving ahead with an ordinance to regulate warehouses and truck terminals.

The township held a public meeting on Monday about the proposed curative amendment ordinance, which defines and regulates warehouse, distribution and truck terminal uses. It also adds to existing rules on minimum lot sizes and increases buffers.

Only three people signed up to speak. Beth Hurley of Love Kidder Township spoke first, in support of the curative amendment ordinance. Linda Christman of Save Carbon County spoke next, also in favor.

“Thank you for undertaking the actions included in this proposed ordinance,” Christman said. “The ordinance provides greater protections for creeks and wetlands. The ordinance requires conditional approval of logistics facilities, giving the township more control, and the ordinance narrows the possible locations for logistics facilities. In keeping with state law, you have not made it impossible to develop another warehouse in Kidder, but you’ve made the process more rigorous, which is appropriate given the impact on the community posed by these warehouses.”

The ordinance defines various categories, including “Small Warehouse/Logistics Use” and “Large Warehouse/Logistics Use.”

A small warehouse is classified as one that does not exceed 25,000 square feet, while a large warehouse exceeds that size threshold. The ordinance also outlines that any facility incorporating ten or more tractor-trailer loading/unloading docks or generating more than fifty tractor-trailer trips or 100 non-tractor-trailer truck trips within a 24-hour period would be classified as a “Truck Terminal.”

Key Regulations

Minimum Lot Area Requirements: The ordinance stipulates minimum lot sizes based on the type and size of the facility. For instance, a small warehouse must have a minimum lot area of five acres, while a large warehouse or truck terminal with a gross floor area between 25,000 and 100,000 square feet must have a lot area of fifteen acres. Facilities exceeding 100,000 square feet require a 50-acre lot.

Riparian Forest Buffer Area: The ordinance requires a riparian forest buffer area for facilities near water bodies. This buffer must consist predominantly of native trees, shrubs and forbs, providing at least 60% uniform canopy cover. The width of the buffer varies based on slope and proximity to water features.

Sensitive Receptor Protections: To minimize impacts on sensitive receptors such as schools, health care facilities, and residences, the ordinance mandates that loading docks and truck entries be oriented away from these areas whenever feasible. Additionally, for large warehouse/logistics uses exceeding 100,000 square feet, loading docks must be located at least 300 feet away from sensitive receptors.

Lighting and Parking Regulations: The ordinance includes provisions for lighting and parking to minimize disturbance to nearby properties. All facilities must comply with the township’s standards for off-street parking and loading areas, ensuring adequate space for vehicle queuing within the property boundaries.

Other comments

Opposed to the changes was attorney Michael Malloy, representing the Blue Ridge Real Estate company. He asked township supervisors to look at the long-term economic impact the new rules will have to the township. He asked for a study to be done.

In defense of the warehouses in place, or underway on properties sold by BRRE, he added that these businesses are “where they belong,” near to the interstate.

With no other public input, the meeting was adjourned.

A short break followed the public hearing, then Kidder Supervisors returned and called a special meeting into session. The sole item of business was to approve advertising the Municipal Curative Amendment ordinance. Supervisors Bruce Berger, Wilson Klotzman, Noel Torres and chairman Ray Gluck voted unanimously to advertise the ordinance as a public notice in The Times News. The ads will start the 30-day period for additional comments.

The new rules, once adopted, will not affect the existing warehouse or the warehouse under construction. The proposed third warehouse in northwest Kidder Township is also underway so is grandfathered. The rules would apply to new projects.

Jarrad Hedes contributed to this report.