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Supervisors give preliminary approval to near‑800,000‑sq‑ft pharmaceutical campus
Summary
The board granted preliminary subdivision and land‑development approval for 'Project Kennedy,' a proposed nearly 800,000‑square‑foot pharmaceutical manufacturing campus on about 150 acres, approving several waivers and deferrals conditional on township engineering comments.
Upper Macungie Township supervisors voted June 4 to grant preliminary subdivision and land‑development approval to Docket 2409, known in materials as "Project Kennedy," a proposal to consolidate six parcels and build a pharmaceutical manufacturing campus on roughly 150 acres.
Township planning staff told the board the application "proposes to consolidate 6 existing parcels and to construct a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility of nearly 800,000 square feet on approximately 150 acres," and described the project as including a visitor center, administrative offices, manufacturing facilities and an automated storage and retrieval system. Consultants and staff reported continuous review of multiple submissions over the past several months.
Engineering and planning consultants recommended approving five waivers and two deferrals to accommodate truck turning radii, a proposed substation driveway and pending right‑of‑way work associated with the Adams Road/PennDOT interchange. The board approved those waivers and deferrals with conditions from the township staff and engineering letters dated May 27–28, 2026.
Board members pressed the applicant on logistics and public‑safety impacts. Michael Kissinger, the project civil engineer, described site circulation and separate truck and visitor access points; he said utilities, a PPL substation and stormwater management features are included on the plans. Bailey Acapinti, identified as Eli Lilly’s owner representative, said the project used traffic data from a comparable facility as a basis for truck‑trip estimates and described phased construction and transportation plans including off‑site parking and busing for construction labor.
Supervisor comments focused on guardrails the board could place on the project and the timing of future submissions; one supervisor said waivers for preliminary review should not automatically extend to final plan review. The board conditioned approval so the applicant must re‑request any similar waivers at the final‑plan stage.
The approval is preliminary; staff indicated final plan submittals, permit conditions, PennDOT actions on the Adams Road interchange and DEP review of stormwater systems remain before building permits would be issued.
What’s next: Township staff will require follow‑up submissions to resolve engineering comments and monitor any PennDOT interchange impacts before final plan or construction approvals are issued.
