Save Maxatawny

We are the Maxatawny Community Coalition - concerned citizens of Maxatawny Township and surrounding areas.

UPDATE 7/18/22: We are asking our supporters to help us raise a matching amount of $3,000 at this time. Although we may need future legal funds as court appeals continue, an immediate match of $3,000 will enable us to pay our current legal fees. We had hoped that the original estimate of what the second appeal would cost would hold true, but like many other things, it escalated in cost. Our legal team had to file an unexpected brief earlier this year and the most recent brief filed by our legal team required more research than what was originally expected.

The court case is in Commonwealth Court at this time and we don't expect a ruling until closer to the end of the year.

As excited as we were to reach our last matching funds goal, we knew that it would not be our last. We are so grateful to everyone that has donated thus far and for believing in our mission.  Our legal team is extremely confident in our case which contain constitutional issues. Several of us who are working on the front line of this defense have each donated several thousand dollars to the legal fund. There is no amount that is too small. Every dollar is greatly appreciated!

Here’s the Story:

Duke Realty, headquartered in Indianapolis, intends to develop Maxatawny Logistics Park on approximately 300 acres along the north side of Rt. 222 between Hilltop and Long Lane Roads. The project is a 1.7-million square feet truck distribution warehouse operating 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Our coalition believes this project would be detrimental to area residents and the character of our township. 

Duke Realty's traffic study estimates the project will generate new vehicle trips of about 5,122 passenger cars and 1,948 trucks during a typical weekday. PennDot's statistics suggest that volume could surpass the capacity of the road. No backroads were included in the traffic studies. Along the backroads north of the project there is already a growing and dangerous truck problem from other projects where the community impacts were not considered sufficiently in advance of those projects. 

Duke proposes to withdraw just under 50,000 gallons per day from local aquifers for the site's operations, which combined with other commercial and industrial draws on the aquifer, could negatively affect local wells and cause the nearby chemical plume to flow into neighboring wells. If the water supply becomes polluted, then local residences and businesses may have to install expensive water treatment systems.

Other community concerns include environmental impacts such as noise, air, and light pollution, stormwater issues, impact of safety and capacity on 222 in the villages of Monterey and Maxatawny and the effects on the Mennonites in our community, who rely on horse-drawn vehicles and bicycles.

The coalition will continue to attempt to seek cooperation with our elected and appointed officials to evaluate this project, and we hope to become a resource for the township to provide community feedback, assistance with research and to increase government transparency. This coalition is not opposed to development that will bring quality jobs as long as that development supports local businesses, protects the environment, and preserves the quality of life presently experienced in this township and does not pose a safety issue for our residents.

We are so very grateful to have the support of Kutztown Borough and Longswamp Township even though Judge Rowley did not allow their request to intervene on our appeal.  

The majority of the funds raised go to our legal fees but at some point we may have to pay for other professional assistance. Please go to our website below to donate. If you want more detailed information on how the funds will be spent, please contact us. Thank you again for your continued and greatly appreciated support.

Visit our website to donate, SaveMaxatawny.org.

Please attend the Maxatawny Township meetings below to show your support:

Board of Supervisors Meetings: 2nd Wednesday of the month 

Planning Commission meetings: 3rd Thursday of the month

Municipal Authority meetings: 4th Thursday of the month