MRP Industrial, a warehouse development firm from Baltimore, is planning to build two warehouses near highway intersections in Watts Twp. in coming years, according to a brief presentation at the township meeting on April 6.
The company was petitioning the township to amend its zoning ordinance to allow for warehouses up to 60 feet high in the industrial zones. All of the industrial-zoned properties are in the Amity Hall area of the township off of Route 11/15 and Route 22/322.
The township supervisors approved the change during their regular meeting. Previous industrial zoning capped building height at 35 feet. The change doesn’t affect building heights in other zones such as commercial or residential, township solicitor Linus Fenicle said.
The zoning changes also require additional setbacks for the buildings based on height. Although buildings could be taller, lighting height would remain at 35 feet.
Matt Clymer, MRPI’s principal for the Pennsylvania market, said the added height is necessary for modern warehouse operations because of the size of the buildings and clearances needed inside.
The warehouses each would be about 1 million square feet, said Jim Snyder, an engineer with Pennoni Associates, who is working with MRPI on the project. The company had a site plan and warehouse cross-section to demonstrate what it would look like. But this was just the first step in the process and designs are purely conceptual.
“We’re a couple years out,” Clymer said about the project.
At earliest, the project might move forward between 18 months and two years from now, he said. The company would still have to submit formal land development plans for approval like other construction projects, but they’re not ready for that stage yet.
Jim T. Ryan can be reached via email at [email protected]
