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Zoning board approves ASHCO special exception to process and warehouse industrial powders on West Gordon Street
Summary
The Allentown Zoning Hearing Board unanimously approved a special‑exception use for ASHCO Manufacturing Inc.’s West Gordon Street property, finding the proposed micronization, warehousing and distribution use meets ordinance standards and must comply with 40 CFR Part 355 and subsequent floodplain and fire reviews.
The Allentown City Zoning Hearing Board on Nov. 10 approved a special‑exception use allowing ASHCO Manufacturing Inc.’s property on West Gordon Street to be used for powder processing, warehousing and distribution.
Applicant representative Neel Sheth testified his company will not alter chemical formulations but will “only change the physical form of the chemicals,” describing the operation as micronization — breaking large particles into smaller ones — and saying the facility will begin with about 12–14 employees and average roughly 2–5 truck visits per day, including tractor‑trailers up to 52 feet. Counsel for the applicant, Kate Durso, told the board she had submitted exhibits and MSDS/SDS documentation to the zoning office and fire department to confirm compliance with applicable requirements.
The board noted staff review and the fire marshal’s preliminary assessment. City staff said a detailed floodplain review remains required before a zoning permit is issued, and the record shows the applicant provided nearly 27 SDS entries for the substances intended for the site. Durso summarized the applicant’s position, saying, “based on the evidence, and testimony presented this evening that we satisfy the requirements of the ordinance for special exception use approval.”
Board members discussed traffic, parking and environmental controls and conditioned approval on compliance with the zoning ordinance’s general health, safety and welfare standards and federal regulatory requirements referenced in the record (40 CFR Part 355). The motion to approve passed unanimously, 3–0.
Next steps include completion of the floodplain review and any fire code or other agency approvals before a final zoning permit and occupancy can occur; city staff said those reviews will evaluate storage locations, containment, stormwater and stormwater permitting obligations, and any required DEP or PennDOT coordination for site redevelopment activities.
