Planning commission OKs one-year extension for Allentown Commerce Park logistics project

The Allentown City Planning Commission on Sept. 16 voted to grant a 12-month extension through Sept. 30, 2026, for a logistics and warehousing project at 1601 South Twelfth Street, after hearing from project counsel and city staff about financing delays and recent resubmissions.

The project was originally approved by the commission in July 2019 and has received prior extensions in November 2021 and September 2023. Melissa Veloz, planning staff, told commissioners the applicant asked for a 12‑month extension to continue land-development steps including approvals from PADEP, LCCD, MPDS, LBPC and final plan sign-offs by the city engineer and the LDA, plus security and recording of the plans. Veloz said staff did not object to an extension but deferred to the commission on the duration.

Joe Fitzpatrick, counsel for Allentown Commerce Park and Edenwood Realty, said the developer has a financing term sheet with Pentex Construction and that applicants had submitted revised plans in May 2025 and received a city comment letter in August. Fitzpatrick described the property as a multi-parcel, roughly 96‑acre tract bisected by a Norfolk Southern Railroad line and said the company is phasing redevelopment to encourage leasing and financing activity.

The project as described to the commission is a single-story logistics/warehouse building of about 154,000 square feet (the applicant referenced differing square‑foot figures during the presentation), with parking for more than 120 cars, space for cargo trailers, landscaping, exterior lighting, stormwater controls and a rain garden. Staff noted public improvements tied to the project exceed $1,000,000 and that the site is identified for industrial and manufacturing uses in Vision 2030.

Commissioners raised no objections to the requested time extension; one commissioner suggested extending to Sept. 30, 2026, to include the full month and that amendment was memorialized before the vote. A motion to grant the extension through Sept. 30, 2026, was made and seconded; the chair called the question and the motion passed.

The commission did not record a roll-call vote with member names in the public record during the meeting; the chair announced the motion carried.

The commission and the applicant noted remaining steps: the developer must continue to respond to the city's comment letter and obtain the listed agency approvals before final plan acceptance and recording. Fitzpatrick and on-site representatives, including the project's engineer and an Allentown Commerce Park vice president, said they expect to proceed with permitting and construction work as agency approvals and financing align.

Commissioners and staff also referenced the municipality's consultation of the MPC and SALDO regarding extensions and said those codes did not prevent consideration of a timeline extension when requested.

A copy of the city comment letter and the project's revised plans are part of the planning office record; the applicant will return when the outstanding agency approvals and final plan requirements are complete.