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Supervisors grant stormwater waiver to Hummel family for farm storage building
Summary
Lehigh Township supervisors unanimously granted Gary and Joyce Hummel a conditional waiver from Chapter 139 stormwater rules to build a 40’x36’ agricultural pole building on their 76‑acre farm, citing existing swales and pasture buffers; the waiver requires sound engineering practices to prevent concentrated flows.
Chairman Mike Jones presided over the Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors meeting on Nov. 25, 2025, at which the board approved a conditional stormwater waiver for Gary and Joyce Hummel.
The Hummels, who said the 76‑acre property has been in their family for four generations, asked the board to waive Section 139‑6.A so they could build a 40‑foot by 36‑foot pole building to store farm equipment. Gary Hummel told the board the property has a conservation swale and that the building footprint will be surrounded by pasture, crops and woodlands that control runoff.
Attorney David Backenstoe explained the township’s stormwater rules: an initial, limited ordinance (Chapter 138) was adopted in 2001 and a more comprehensive Chapter 139 followed in 2007. Backenstoe said Chapter 139 treats cover added after 2001 as counting toward the 10,000‑square‑foot exemption; because the two subdivided lots already have about 8,288 and 7,190 square feet of impervious cover respectively, the 10,000‑square‑foot exemption is exceeded and stormwater management would normally be required for the new building.
Several supervisors said they were sympathetic to the Hummels but concerned about setting a precedent. Supervisor David Hess characterized the situation as “ridiculous” for a 1,400‑square‑foot building on 76 acres; Supervisor Cindy Miller said the property’s engineer should have advised the owners of potential requirements.
Supervisor Janet Sheats moved to grant the waiver based on the property’s topography, the existing conservation swale, the distance from neighboring homes and the extensive pasture buffer, conditioning the waiver on the applicants using sound engineering principles so flows are dispersed and do not become concentrated. David Hess seconded the motion. All voted aye and the motion carried.
The waiver was approved as a site‑specific exception rather than a change to township ordinance; the board did not adopt a broader policy change. The Hummels’ request and the board’s decision were recorded in the meeting minutes.
