If the opening parry is any indication, the actual zoning hearing is going to be contentious.

Wednesday night, the Walker Township Zoning Hearing Board convened to conduct a hearing on two requests from Heisler's Egg Farm Inc., located at 757 Valley Road.The business, at that location for more than 50 years, seeks to expand, which would require favorable rulings on two requests: a special exception to exceed the allowed animal units per acre, and a variance from the ordinance which limits expansion to 25 percent.The hearing never got that far.John Muir, an attorney with Kozloff Stoudt of Wyomissing, objected to the manner that adjoining property owners were informed of the hearing.Muir represents David and Margaret Bensinger, neighbors of the Heisler's Egg Farm, who live at 781 Valley Road. Muir said that letters had not been sent to adjoining property owners, which is required by ordinance.Dave Horst, an engineer with Alfred Benesch & Co., the township's engineering firm, said he had hand-delivered a letter, but Muir contended that the letter had to be mailed and said, "There is no evidence that you've accomplished that."According to the ordinance, "Notice of all matters coming before the zoning hearing board shall be sent by first class mail, or as may be required by this zoning ordinance, or the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code." The PMPC does not require that letters be sent, but requires that the property which is the subject of the hearing be posted "in a manner that will be visible to the public" from all directions.After Muir raised the question, zoning hearing board chairman Bruce Leiby called for an executive session.After about 10 minutes, the board returned, and motioned to continue the meeting at 7 p.m. June 29.Heisler's Egg Farm is located in an enhanced agriculture zoning district. In EA, intensive agriculture is defined as exceeding "three animal units per acre" and is only allowed on properties which are 25 acres and larger. Heisler's Egg Farm is located on a 55-acre tract. An animal unit is equal to 1,000 pounds.