A proposal for a 330,000 square-foot logistics warehouse complex at the former Franklin Mint property in Middletown did not pass muster with the Middletown Planning Commission, which unanimously recommended denying the plan, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times.
Outrigger Industrial LLC submitted plans to subdivide a 35-acre parcel on the site for the warehouse.
Nearby residents to the Franklin Mint property have been pushing back against the proposal, arguing that redevelopment of the land was intended as a retail promenade, not a high-volume logistics hub. They’ve expressed concerns about pollution, traffic, and noise from trucks.
Critics of the proposal secured 1,300 names on a petition opposing the warehouse.
Outrigger executive Scott Henderson said they have a legal “by right” to build at the site, arguing their warehouse proposal conforms to existing zoning and development requirements.
The 300,000-square-foot warehouse is actually scaled back from an original 380,000-square-foot building proposal.
Developers proposed 15-foot sound walls to mitigate truck noise and 10-foot rooftop walls in front of HVAC systems.
A final decision on the warehouse will be made by Middletown Township Council, which will conduct its first review of the plan at its Aug. 6 council workshop meeting.
Learn more about the logistics warehouse in The Daily Times.
