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Superfund site rezoned; board approves logistics‑center overlay and conservation easement
Summary
The board approved a zoning map and text amendment (5–0) creating an LC Logistics Center Overlay District on a large Korman Commercial Properties site, consolidating zoning, requiring remediation of the Brownfield/Superfund property, and establishing a 200‑foot conservation easement along the Neshaminy Creek.
The Middletown supervisors voted April 13 to approve a zoning map change and text amendment proposed by Korman Commercial Properties that creates a Logistics Fulfillment Center overlay (LC) for properties of 50 acres or greater in the M‑1 light manufacturing district.
Staff summarized the proposal as a legislative zoning amendment intended to consolidate disparate zoning on an approximately 85‑acre legacy Superfund/Brownfield site, require remediation overseen by DEP/EPA, and create a conservation easement along the Neshaminy Creek. Applicant attorney Ed Murphy said the purpose is to make the site marketable to a developer willing to assume remediation costs. Murphy said the plan removes data‑center and cold‑storage uses that had previously been discussed and would allow logistics fulfillment only via conditional use on qualifying sites. “The idea… is to create a more uniform zoning classification that would give confidence to the business community that they could locate a use that could afford to undertake the cleanup,” Murphy said.
Members of the public raised concerns about contamination, floodplain impacts, stormwater runoff, traffic and long‑term land use. Resident Joe Fitch asked whether digging up the old landfill risked contaminating Neshaminy Creek; staff and the applicant said any remediation would follow DEP‑approved plans (including capping or other DEP‑mandated measures), and that remediation and stormwater controls would be required as part of any future land development process.
The board emphasized that the zoning amendment is the first step; any actual land development, traffic mitigation, stormwater controls and remediation plans would come later through conditional use and land development applications subject to township review and state/federal environmental approvals. The motion to adopt the ordinance and rezoning passed 5–0.
Next steps: the text and map amendment are approved; if a developer proposes land development, the board will review conditional use and remediation plans and set conditions at that time.
