The Editor:

One truck terminal of 1.1 million sq. feet is in operation in Kidder Township on State Route940. A second has been approved and is being constructed and a third is under consideration - all within a 2 mile stretch of this same route. Unless Kidder Township changes its zoning dramatically, there will be four, five and six truck terminals along Route40 - the current zoning will allow it.

Like a lot of municipalities, Kidder has been blindsided by the insatiable appetite for truck terminals and their zoning ordinance is not prepared to properly control or limit them. At this time, Kidder Twp. has begun a process to change their zoning, but it may be a case of shutting the barn door after the horse has escaped. Every municipality in Carbon County with even a remote chance of truck terminal construction should take a close look at their zoning for truck terminals, warehouses, and distribution centers.

The respected environmental organization, PennFuture has prepared a Model Ordinance and guidebook. The Model Ordinance provides the means to control truck terminal development and it is available free. For the sake of our environment and the peace of our citizens, I hope our elected officials take this issue seriously because the clamor to build these monstrosities is not over.

Linda Christman

President, Save Carbon County

Lehighton