The Parkland School Board advanced their opposition to a proposed warehouse near Orefield Middle School on Monday night, approving legal action against the project.

The board resolution, approved in a 9-0 vote, states district solicitors “are authorized to take action in the legal matters involving the Project including, but not limited to, filing a Petition to Intervene in the land development appeal matter before the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County.”

There is a court hearing scheduled for Sept. 30 to address various petitions to intervene, including the school district’s.

The proposed Nexus 78 warehouse near the intersection of Route 309 and Orefield Road would be 501,405 square feet and 50 feet high, according to plans from developer Trammell Crow Co., which aims to begin construction by the end of the year and wrap the project in spring 2027.

At the end of May, the North Whitehall Township Planning Commission voted 6-0 against the warehouse. Two members were absent and one was recused from the vote.

A few days later, township supervisors also rejected the warehouse proposal at their June 2 meeting. That prompted developers to seek relief in court.

The warehouse proposal calls for a two-way driveway from Route 309 and an exit-only ramp to Orefield Road. The project relies on anticipated improvements from PennDOT work on Route 309, including adding left-turn lanes at the intersection with Orefield Road.

At the planning commission meeting in May, the school district cited concerns that warehouse truck traffic would conflict with traffic coming in and out of Orefield Middle School and the district’s plan to build a garage area for its bus and van fleet across Orefield Road from the warehouse exit.

“The district opposes the plan to have truck traffic utilize the proposed road connecting to Orefield Road,” Assistant Superintendent Timothy Chorones told the planning commission. “ … The district also opposes the increased truck traffic that has the potential to impact the safe transport of close to 10,000 students across the Parkland School District to all of our schools.”

In advance of Monday’s meeting, Superintendent Mark Madson sent the following statement: “The District cites a significant negative impact on the transportation and safety of Parkland School District students, staff, and residents. This project will greatly compromise the roadways of District sites adjacent to the project, specifically Orefield Middle School, the Transportation Office and School Bus Lot, Kernsville Elementary School, and student drivers traveling to and from Parkland High School.”

https://www.mcall.com/2025/09/08/parkland-school-board-nexus-78-warehouse/