If you’ve driven anywhere in Buckingham lately there’s no doubt you’ve noticed the hundreds of bright red “No Warehouse” signs planted in yards and intersections. These signs are a symbol of the fight the local residents have been waging against a New Jersey developer intent on building what we believe is actually a truck terminal on farmland that isn’t zoned for freight processing of this sort.
The developer’s proposed routing for all trucks in and out of the facility, which includes Stony Lane, Cold Spring Creamery and Landisville Road, is predicted to bring at least ninety tractor trailer trips per day to small roads, which were not built to handle such truck traffic. The resulting air, noise and water pollution will severely impact the quality of life of all local residents, not just the many people living along the suggested tractor trailer routes.
Unfortunately, residents are facing an uphill battle with our own elected officials in Buckingham when it comes to being part of the discovery and review process of this project as it moved from initial phases over a year ago through the current approval process. Instead of providing an open forum and clear communication for the citizens that they are elected to support, Buckingham Township Supervisors Paul Calderaio, Maggie Rash and Jon Forest and their associates, have repeatedly put up roadblocks, or completely denied residents the information we believe they deserve.
Right to Know (RTK) requests related to the proposal have been denied, or in one instance, when granted, have been heavily redacted. Residents’ RTK requests have also not returned any email documentation from the three supervisors, which is surprising considering how long Buckingham has been in discussions with the property owner and the developer. RTK requests for internal written communications about zoning questions surrounding the facility — a pivotal need — have also been denied. A resident with property abutting the site even went to the township building to review the developer’s full 70-page plans. They were also required to complete a RTK request.
One of the most concerning aspects of this lack of transparency is the township’s unwillingness to accommodate all the residents attempting to attend the related planning commission and board of supervisors meetings. This proposal has strong opposition within our community, resulting in overflow crowds at meetings whenever it is on the agenda. Rather than acknowledge all the residents that want to attend, and move related meetings to a school auditorium, or similar appropriately sized venue, residents have been forced to stand in the hallway, unable to hear what is being discussed.
Members of the community, as well as the Stop the Warehouse Steering Committee, have requested use of a larger space on three occasions and were denied, with the township manager claiming that a move to a bigger venue would be confusing for attendees, and then stating that it could be cost-prohibitive, despite the Stop the Warehouse group offering to pay any associated use fees. In order to provide access for the crowds expected for the upcoming July 24 supervisors meeting, the Stop the Warehouse Committee has made plans to broadcast the meeting to those left outside of the 200-person indoor seating area. Offsite overflow parking has also been secured by the group.
The June 20 Buckingham Township newsletter included a letter from “your Board of Supervisors” Paul, Maggie and Jon, stating that their main goals are protecting the community’s physical, financial and environmental safety. We look forward to seeing that in action in denying this application. We encourage all local residents to attend this meeting on the evening of Wednesday July 24 at the Buckingham Township Building with the actual Regular Business Meeting beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Mike Bateman, Jeff Glauber, Victoria Bresnahan, Jennifer Potthoff constitute the steering committee of No Buckingham Warehouse: A Central Bucks Coalition.
Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.
