443 developer battles PennDOT

A local businessman developing property along Route 443 has pleaded with Mahoning Township officials for help now that his plan has hit a roadblock due to a road widening project.

Developer and businessman Joe Bennett on Wednesday asked township supervisors for assistance as he attempts to develop property along 443 near the Aldi grocery store.

The road project — still in the planning phases with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation — calls for the widening of 443 to add a center turning lane.

Bennett said that in addition to the road widening, PennDOT has notified him that a majority of his property frontage along 443 will be condemned to be used for a water drainage retention pond.

He told supervisors that he believes a center turning lane would improve property values along Route 443 because of ease of access, but added, “I don’t want to be the sacrificial lamb with my property.”

“Putting in a retention pond, that property will have no tax value whatsoever to the township,” Bennett said.

Bennett said that in addition to his property set for condemnation, the property located between Lowe’s and Lehighton Kia is also set for condemnation for a drainage retention pond.

He told supervisors that the property is valuable due to the location at the stop light, being a corner lot and located in proximity to other businesses.

Bennett does not own the property at the traffic signal, but said, “It’s a fantastic property.”

However, Supervisor Bruce Steigerwalt told Bennett that it would be difficult for PennDOT to change plans at this point due to the extensive planning that has gone into the project.

“I don’t know if they would even be willing to go back through redesign and resubmission of their permit applications,” Steigerwalt said.

“I agree with what you’re saying. They’re valuable pieces of commercial property with a lot of frontage along 443, but I don’t know what we as a township could do.”

Steigerwalt said that he believed Bennett would get more satisfaction if he reached out to state Sen. John Yudichak or state Rep. Doyle Heffley to deal with PennDOT.

Bennett said Heffley has been very helpful, but told supervisors, “PennDOT is not willing to meet with me while we’re defending our property.”

He added that PennDOT offered him $407,000 for the property he owns next to Aldi’s, which he said was his original purchase price.

Bennett said he was under an agreement to purchase property to the rear of the roadside property, and he offered the land to PennDOT for the construction of a drainage retention pond, but it appears PennDOT is not interested.

“I ask that you write a letter to PennDOT and ask them to re-look at their engineering due to zero tax dollars coming into this township for two extremely valuable properties,” he said. “It’s a tough position. I realize you’re not trying to alienate PennDOT.”

Bennett indicated his projected income for the property is $11,000 per month for the pad sites. Construction of the buildings is estimated to be between $1 million to $1.2 million.

He said he would like PennDOT to re-engineer the project to place the drainage retention ponds on less valuable land rather than on the front of the property along 443.

Supervisors did not indicate if they will discuss the matter with PennDOT or any other agencies.

In September, Bennett announced that Kentucky Fried Chicken and Wendy’s would be among six new businesses located along the 2.56 acres of land along 443.

Bennett Family Properties purchased the land at 844 and 848 Blakeslee Blvd. East from St. Luke’s Hospital of Bethlehem at a cost of $407,000.

Bennett, managing partner of Bennett Family Properties LLC, 619 Iron St., Lehighton, said there will be an additional four new businesses that will occupy the properties.

While he said at that time that a KFC and Wendy’s would be a sure thing, Bennett said the fate of the other four new businesses rest in the hands of PennDOT as to whether they needed the property for the 443 widening project.

The properties are currently empty lots just to the east of Aldi’s.

Bennett previously said that he had a lot of interest from restaurant users in that location, and that he purchased it to develop the properties and add franchises that aren’t currently in the area.

He said they also own the property to the left of NAPA Auto Parts, which is not yet developed on the west side, between NAPA and Auto­Zone; the AutoZone; Fastenal, a wholesale industrial and commercial supply business; along with the houses to the left of Fastenal at 102 and 104 Blakeslee Blvd. East.

Additionally, Bennett is also managing partner of Lehighton Development LLC, which brought the St. Luke’s Care Now in Lehighton, at 575 S. Ninth St. off Route 443.