Planning commission reviews Mitsubishi Chemical sketch plan for 13,368 sq ft warehouse addition

The City of Reading Planning Commission reviewed a sketch plan April 22 for a 13,368-square-foot addition to the Mitsubishi Chemical advanced materials facility at 2120 Fairmont Avenue.

Jerome Skrinkowski, the planning consultant, told the commission the sketch plan is an informal review that does not require action but helps staff and the applicant identify issues before a formal submission. "We received the sketch plan application. So this is an informal review, which does not require any action, just to provide guidance and direction to the applicant," Skrinkowski said.

Skrinkowski said the 4.9-acre parcel is in the Manufacturing Commercial (MC) zoning district and that, while some materials on the plan may be carryovers from a prior submission, the project appears ready to advance to a preliminary/final plan application. He listed items the city will require at that stage: landscaping and street trees, exterior lighting, solid-waste management, a sewer narrative to confirm whether a planning module is needed, evaluation of water supply by Rawa, a stormwater management plan, an erosion-and-sedimentation control plan, and a municipal improvements and stormwater management agreement.

Mike Mikaze, representing Mitsubishi, said the proposed work is a warehousing expansion and a loading-dock reconfiguration. "This is pretty straightforward," Mikaze said, adding the company does not anticipate an increase in employees and will provide a sewer narrative and full stormwater and infiltration testing. Mikaze said the applicant intends to submit a preliminary plan for the June commission meeting.

Commissioners asked procedural and permitting questions. One commissioner advised the applicant to check with PennDOT about whether a highway-occupancy permit (HOP) will be required for driveway or stormwater connections; Mikaze said the team has not yet contacted PennDOT but will include such checks in their due diligence. The city asked the fire marshal to review the plan; the commission had not yet received fire comments but expected them before preliminary submission.

Because the sketch plan stage is advisory, the commission did not take a vote. Planning staff said they will issue a zoning review letter and coordinate with the applicant on outstanding items ahead of the planned June submission.

The commission’s discussion centered on standard engineering, utilities and access checks rather than policy or zoning relief. The applicant and staff agreed to continue coordination on sewer, stormwater and PennDOT questions as the project proceeds to a formal application.