By Betsy Brewer Brantner
Contributing Writer

Plans for a warehouse in East Nottingham Township are drawing some questions from bordering municipalities and local residents concerned with possible increased truck traffic.

Pauline Garcia-Allen, the Oxford Borough Manager said, “We asked to have the borough’s engineer, Pennoni, review the traffic-impact study. Pennoni did, and they issued a letter that I submitted to East Nottingham Township with our request for a review of traffic concerns outside of East Nottingham Township to be considered. The borough and West Nottingham Township have concerns. I believe the developer has contended that all truck traffic coming out of the property would go south toward West Nottingham Township. The Borough of Oxford is concerned about that assumption.”

The Borough of Oxford, an urban center serving five townships, is concerned about the possibility of more traffic, especially truck traffic, causing congestion, more wear-and-tear on borough streets, and continued damage to the streets. Large trucks have damaged fire hydrants, curbing and traffic lights in Oxford in the past. Also of concern is the turning radii for trucks and how that will be handled.

Oxford Borough does have regulations on the books regarding the size, weight and type of vehicles permitted on special streets, and the borough has designated “no truck traffic” restrictions on certain streets due to previous damage caused by trucks. 

It is apparent, according to the plans for the Herr Farm, that East Penn Railroad will also play a significant part in the proposed warehouse. It is not clear how much rail traffic will be increased. 

Graves Road lays between Route 272 and Old Baltimore Pike and as such may also be impacted by the truck traffic, as would the residences along that road.

According to Rachel Greer, the Zoning Officer for East Nottingham Township, The Herr’s Farm Preliminary Land Development Plan proposes three industrial warehouse distribution buildings on 123 acres located in the I1 (Industrial) District in East Nottingham Township.  The three warehouses will total 940,640 square feet and include 941 parking spaces. It will be served by public water and sewer.

Greer explained, “The plan was reviewed at the June 23, 2025 Planning Commission meeting. The minutes from this meeting will be available after the Planning Commission meeting on July 28. The developer was present and will need to revise the plan and then resubmit to the Planning Commission. As of today, a revised plan has not been submitted so I do not know when it will be in front of the Planning Commission. The plan was set to expire on August 17, 2025 but a one-month extension was granted so the plan now expires September 18, 2025, which would put it on the September 9, 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting agenda. However, an extension can be granted, allowing more time to review the plan, so at this time an exact date is unknown.”

Greer also explained that up-to-date information and a copy of the plan layout can be found on East Nottingham Township’s website under “Land Development and Subdivision Plans.” 

The engineer review letter from June 17 is also listed on the website. Many questions posed by the public are the same as those posed by East Nottingham Township’s engineer.

The bigger question may be: How can the public continue to increase its demand for home delivery of more and more products without increased truck traffic?

One theory is that problems brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic forever increased the number of home deliveries. Families and individuals are increasingly getting more comfortable with home deliveries for a wider variety of things they want to purchase.

One individual who wishes to remain anonymous said, “If people don’t want more trucks on the road and through their towns, they need to go out and do their own shopping. It’s the people wanting home deliveries that have increased truck deliveries.”