To the Editor:

As the rampant overbuilding of supersized “distribution centers” continues to spread across the commonwealth, some of our local representatives are rolling out the welcome mat for warehouse development in the Poconos.

Nearly 200 acres of forested land in Carbon County were razed last month for the construction of a million-square-foot warehouse along Route 940 in the Poconos. State Rep. Doyle Heffley and state Sen. John Yudichak’s enthusiastic support for this environmentally irresponsible and economically unsustainable project is a slap in the face to those constituents who value what is most precious about our region - its healthy, unfragmented forests, clean air and water, natural beauty, and exceptional biological diversity.

The estimate of 300 jobs is highly exaggerated. The average number of employees at a typical warehouse is 182, according to a survey published in 2018. (2018 Warehouse/Distribution Center Survey: Labor crunch driving automation - Modern Materials Handling (mmh.com) Only 33% of respondents said they would expand their workforce, as the industry becomes increasingly automated.

It is unfortunate that so many of our public officials value “economic growth” and “tax revenue” over conservation and protection of the natural resources that make the Poconos one of the Last Great Places on Earth. Some are citing the “pandemic” as an excuse for wasteful development, claiming it is part of the “economic recovery.” Yet these projects were already in the works long before the pandemic, and sadly, there will be more to come.

Juliet Perrin

Albrightsville