Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Air Quality Warehousing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges township to weigh health impacts of warehouse truck emissions
Summary
A Franklin resident asked the board to address health risks from freight-related diesel emissions tied to local warehouse expansion, citing state planning reports and WHO classifications, and urged that public-health representatives be included in zoning and planning reviews.
Ken Burkhowitz, a Franklin Township resident, used the public‑comment period to urge the board and township to take a more active role in reviewing the health impacts of large warehouse development and goods-movement in the county.
Burkhowitz cited state planning‑commission guidance and World Health Organization findings that classify diesel exhaust as carcinogenic and described mounting evidence that diesel emissions from delivery vans and tractor‑trailers contribute to cancer and cardiopulmonary disease. He said the township has seen “more than two dozen” warehouse applications since 2018 totaling several million square feet and asked that the health department and advisory board be given formal representation on zoning and planning boards to evaluate and mitigate air‑quality and public‑health effects.
No formal action was taken during the meeting; the comment closed the public‑comment period and the council proceeded to adjourn the presentation portion of the agenda. The resident’s request remains a public comment and was not adopted at the meeting.
