Grand Central Sanitary Landfill proposes Zoning Change so it can expand landfill in Plainfield Township - first township meeting March 11

Now it is known for certain why Synagro gave up its fight to locate a biosolids plant on Waste Management's Grand Central Sanitary Landfill land in Plainfield Township - Waste Management has another larger development in mind - a landfill expansion - and a protracted battle over Synagro's proposal would have interfered with the process to expand.

There is no height restriction on a landfill, other than it must remain structurally sound.  The problem is, going up vertically means less area is available due to the sloped sides of the landfill.  If the landfill wants to expand in a meaningful way, it may seek to expand horizontally, which is what Waste Management plans.  The problem is, they have run out of land that is zoned for a landfill.  They own land in the Commerical Industrial district, where their truck parking and offices are.  Then there is the landfill, in the Solid Waste district, and a small amount of land in the Farm and Forest district adjacent to the landfill.  See the map below.  An expansion typically is a five-year long process, and the landfill is estimated to be full in 2028, so this rezoning is an urgent matter.

A corporate entity named Slate Springs Farm LLC assumed title of several parcels of land owned by Gary and Linda Perin, on the precise date in late 2019 that Synagro's application was withdrawn during a Board of Supervisors meeting.  On the map indicated with red boxes are these parcels, and it is within these lands currently zoned Farm and Forest that the expansion is proposed.  Note that Pen Argyl Road would be ensconced by the landfill, as well as Evergreen Cemetery.  The expansion would be bounded by Pen Argyl, Bocce Club and Delabole Roads. The proposed route is reported to be that trucks will cross Pen Argyl Road presumably at the currently closed gate near the truck scales, and retain the current entrance and exit off of Route 512.  Here are the tax parcels under Slate Springs Farm LLC's title:

E8 13 1 0626	E8 13 15 0626	E8 13 6 0626	E8 8 16 0625
E8 13 10 0626	E8 13 16 0626	E8 13 7 0626	E9 18 1 0626
E8 13 10A 0626	E8 13 16A 0626	E8 13 8 0626	E9 18 1 0626
E8 13 11 0626	E8 13 17 0626	E8 14 1 0625	E9 9 1 0626
E8 13 12 0626	E8 13 2 0626	E8 15 2 0625	E9 9 3B 0626
E8 13 13 0626	E8 13 3 0626	E8 15 2 0626	E9 9 7 0626
E8 13 14 0626	E8 13 4 0626	E8 24 1 0626	F8 9 1A 0626
E8 13 14A 0626	E8 13 5 0626	E8 8 14 0626

The Express Times reports that Slate Springs Farm LLC has an agreement to sell 325 acres to Grand Central - the parcels shown depicted and listed above.  Of this, 211 acres would be rezoned to Solid Waste, which would be the area denoted "REZONING AREA".  81 acres would be used for the expansion of the landfill, and 52 acres for "support activities".  The sale is contingent on the rezoning.

It is reported that this expansion will allow the landfill to operate 20 additional years.  If the expansion is granted, will Waste Management invite Synagro to locate in the expanded Solid Waste zoning district, away from the problematic water-filled quarry that caused Synagro's previous application to receive undesired scrutiny?

In Pennsylvania, zoning variances, zoning officer interpretation challenges and special exceptions are heard by the Zoning Hearing Board.  Conditional uses, validity challenges and zoning map change requests are heard by the supervisory body.  Last week, the Board of Supervisors appointed special counsel for zoning matters that come before the board.  James Preston of Broughal and Devito, a well-seasoned and respected land use attorney who typically represents corporate clients, was selected.  Solicitor David Backenstoe represents the Board of Supervisors - who must hear the request in an unbiased manner, while Mr. Preston will represent the interests of the township and its citizens.  Those who witnessed the Synagro reviews before the Planning Commission will recognize that Jack Embick was special counsel and took hard-nosed positions, while Mr. Backenstoe was the solicitor for the Planning Commission and acted mostly as a listener and a procedural guide.

Zoning change requests are reviewed by the Planning Commission, which makes a recommendation to the supervisors.  However, a zoning map change request is first heard by the Board of Supervisors, which may send it to the Planning Commission; an alternative is that the BOS may vote to reject the request without forwarding it for a recommendation.

At the regular Board of Supervisors meeting on March 11, 2020 at 7:00 PM, Waste Management is scheduled to make a brief presentation of the proposed zoning map change..  No official action will be taken by the BOS at this meeting.  The township has announced that the meeting will be moved to the Plainfield Township Fire Hall 6480 Sullivan Trail Wind Gap, in order for all interested parties to hear the presentation.