Council approves HBF Foods land‑development plan for large egg‑processing addition
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Summary
City planning staff and the applicant described a 40,738‑square‑foot addition to an existing industrial building, new parking, loading docks and the temporary removal and replanting of 21 trees; council approved the land‑development plan 5‑0 after questions about truck access, landscaping and local sourcing of eggs.
Williamsport City Council voted unanimously Thursday to approve a land‑development plan for Williamsport Grading LLC, operating as HBF Foods, to expand its existing former Primus commercial facility with a 40,738‑square‑foot western building addition and associated parking and loading areas.
City staff presented the project as an expansion that will increase the total structure to 76,857 square feet, create two new truck loading areas and remove 21 trees as part of construction. Staff said the removed trees will be replanted after stormwater and parking work is completed. “The proposed plan is for the Western Building Structure addition of 40,738 square feet,” a city planner said during the presentation.
Council members asked whether Central Avenue is wide enough for frequent truck access; staff replied the circulation was reviewed and met requirements, though they acknowledged the access is tight and the owners and developer were made aware. When asked whether the facility operates with live animals, staff clarified it is an egg processing facility: “They process them, they certify them, they inspect them, they clean them, package them, and they ship them out,” the presenter said.
Staff said the company buys eggs primarily from Pennsylvania and occasionally from Maryland, and that not all suppliers will be local farms. The applicant previously estimated the expanded operation could create roughly 100 to 200 jobs once at full production.
Council approved the land‑development plan by voice vote (motion passed 5‑0). The motion as recorded in the minutes authorized city administration to process the land development application, subject to the conditions in departmental review comments, including stormwater approvals by the city engineer and Lycoming County.
