PennDOT rejects Synagro proposal to access poop plant via Pen Argyl Road in Plainfield Township

Next week, the review of Synagro's land development plan for a biosolids plant to be located on land leased from Grand Central Landfill continues before the Plainfield Township planning commission (see right sidebar for details).

At the last meeting in March, the Nuisance Mitigation Plan was discussed - this important document contains metrics on what trigger levels there will be for potential odors as well as for other nuisances that may be associated with the proposed plant, as well as response actions.  Synagro rejected the levels suggested by township consultant Trudy Johnston as being too stringent - more discussion will be necessary.  There was also concern how or if odors from tarped trucks travelling through town to deliver tons of crap would be regulated.  This potentially could be one of the worst nuisances of this operation.  Tarps won't do jack shit to control odors - Synagro has admitted this in previous meetings.

Sedimentation Basin #2 was also discussed - there will be more discussion on this too, as PA DEP subsequently issued a letter listing several deficiencies associated the basin, and the township maintains that a variance from a zoning ordinance open space buffer from water bodies is required to locate parking and a driveway within the current boundary of the basin.

Also at the March 11, 2019 meeting, township traffic consultant Peter Terry of Benchmark Analytics reported on a PennDOT scoping meeting that was held to discuss Synagro's proposed access via Pen Argyl Road.  Synagro proposed in February a Low Use HOP (highway occupancy permit) for Pen Argyl Road, which would allow for the entire daily traffic anticipated to be required for the plant's trucks and employees.  Representatives from PennDOT, Benchmark, Synagro and the township attended the meeting.  Mr. Terry reported that PennDOT stated that it is unlikely a permit would be issued for trucks and employees to access the plant using Pen Argyl Road, and the only potential access would be via a Minimum Use (25 vehicles a day or less in and out) gated driveway to be used only in case of emergencies.

Looking at the closeup view, it is easy to see why this proposal was rejected.  Trucks exiting are in the way of trucks entering, and can't see traffic traveling south until they totally block the bidrectional access point.

February 2019 draft proposal of Low Use driveway

Closeup of February 2019 proposal to route all traffic to Pen Argyl Road

Head-on collision, anyone?  Who needs site distance?

Recall that in July 2018, Synagro tossed its first Pen Argyl Road access at the wall, to see if it would stick.  It did not, and right out of the gate (pun intended) Synagro admitted this would be a Minimum Use driveway not capable of handling its traffic, and would be gated for emergency use only.  At the PennDOT scoping meeting, PennDOT stated that this is the only kind of access that could be permitted for Synagro from Pen Argyl Road.

July 2018 proposal for gated Minimum Use(less) access via Pen Argyl Road

Closeup of July 2018 proposal - suitable for small employee cars only

This means that Synagro will have to find another method of accessing the site - likely the Route 512 landfill entrance, down the haul road to two bidirectional driveways on each end of the poop plant.  As a result, the township will continue to maintain that Synagro needs a second zoning variance, for access via separate entrances and exits directly to a collector or arterial street.  There simply is no space to install zoning compliant driveways to Pen Argyl Road, with the proper throat length and site distance.