Action on the adoption of a warehouse ordinance remains at a standstill in Mahoning Township.

While the matter had been put on the shelf until this year, supervisors on Monday again tabled the matter.

It was decided in November that the topic, which has been listed on its past several meeting agendas, would be put on hold until this year.

Supervisor Deb McGowan said at that time she believes the township needs to schedule a workshop after the new year.

There has been push back on a 420,000-square-foot warehouse project in Kidder Township some 30 miles away.

In August, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection officials heard concerns from local residents, lawyers and environmental activists.

All of the concerns expressed at that hearing in Kidder urged the agency to deny a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for the proposed warehouse project.

That project is planned by Blue Ridge Real Estate Inc. along Route 903. The permit would allow the discharge of pollutants from construction activities into a nearby tributary of Black Creek, a high-quality waterway home to migratory fish.

The matter hasn’t reached anywhere near that level of controversy in Mahoning Township, where supervisors in July reviewed a sample warehouse ordinance.

Board Chairman Robert Slaw previously said the ordinance didn’t have a solar-ready roof.

However, Mahoning Township solicitor Tom Nanovic said he wasn’t sure the board could do that.

Supervisor Ronald Wenrich said that structures should be sturdy enough so they can put solar on it.

But Nanovic questioned why the board was making only warehouses do it.

Slaw then suggested that the board give Nanovic more time to look at the sample ordinance before pursuing the matter any further.

In June, a group of environmentally conscious people urged the township to protect itself against truck terminals, warehouses and distribution centers.

Linda Christman, president of Save Carbon County, asked supervisors at that time to take a close look at township zoning, and to consider a model ordinance.

Christman told the board there are several truck terminals in a 2-mile stretch along Route 940 in Kidder Township. Several more have been proposed.

She said truck terminals could have their sites set on Mahoning Township in light of the improvements made along Route 443, along with its proximity to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Later during that meeting, Slaw asked if the township should look into an ordinance.

The board planned to reach out to Carson Helfrich, land use planner, to see if he has any warehouse regulations.

Helfrich previously assisted Mahoning, Franklin Township and Lehighton Borough with updating their subdivision and land development ordinances and their zoning ordinances.

McGowan suggested at that time it would be prudent of the township to protect itself against such development.

McGowan noted the township has a lot of empty property on Route 443.