Ridge Farm development in South Whitehall creates crowded commissioners race

The massive and highly controversial Ridge Farm development in South Whitehall Township has become the catalyst for a political awakening in the township, where nine candidates are vying for three seats on the Board of Commissioners.The 661-unit development from Kay Builders is the latest unpopular project to incite an interest in local politics.The three seats open for candidates this year include one held by Commissioner Matthew Mulqueen, who is running for reelection. The other two commissioners, Glenn Block and David Bond, have opted not to run.DemocratsDemocrat Joe Setton is running for the South Whitehall Board of Commissioners.Joe Setton, 68, a Lehigh Valley real estate agent for the last 35 years, felt compelled to run for a commissioner seat as the township’s development growth has blossomed. Setton understands the concerns spawned by the scale of the Ridge Farm project, but said he was grateful that a tested developer like Kay Builders was behind the proposal, rather than a company from outside the Lehigh Valley.Since zoning rules dictate where certain projects can go, Setton said he’d be focused on adjusting those laws and boundaries to ensure the growth fits with residents’ vision of their home. Reworking the zoning map could allow for continued growth in a way that Setton said could appeal to more residents.Democrat Keisha Champagnie is running for the South Whitehall Board of Commissioners.Keisha Champagnie, 43, works in leadership development and is running for the first time for a seat on the township’s board of commissioners. She sits on the South Whitehall Parks and Recreation Board and said she chose to run for commissioner because she worries about the direction of the township.Champagnie wants to see the township take steps to curb growth and operate more transparently when it comes to controversial issues or projects. Streaming township meetings online or sending out surveys on big-ticket issues could allow more residents a deeper engagement with their government, she said.Democrat Matthew Mobilio is running for the South Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners.Matthew Mobilio, 38, an attorney with his own law firm, is the youngest candidate running in South Whitehall. Mobilio said his time on the township’s Zoning Appeals Board has given him an understanding of land use, and his career in law has prepared him for a role as advocate for residents.Mobilio is interested in undoing 2014 zoning overlays that made South Whitehall friendlier to development. And he wants more public input on the projects, suggesting nonbinding referendums as a way to give the public a voice that could help hold commissioners to account. Democrat Thomas J. Johns is running for a seat on the South Whitehall Board of Commissioners.Thomas J. Johns, 64, owns a construction business and has served two terms for a total of eight years on the Board of Commissioners from 2009 to 2017. Johns said he’d like to return to the board because he doesn’t believe his work there was done.Johns said he’d like to see farmland preservation efforts in the township. But he stopped short of advocating for a tax increase to fund such an initiative, something other townships have found is necessary to raise the money needed to purchase the development rights. Johns said the township budget is also one of his biggest concerns. He said he wasn’t sure last year’s 0.47 millage rate increase to help fund the fire department was essential.North Whitehall residents to decide whether to fund farmland, open space preservation in townshipThough Johns takes issues with tax hikes, he was among the commissioners on the board who wrestled with the highest tax rate increases South Whitehall had seen in a nearly three-decade span. The township hadn’t raised taxes since 1989 and then hit residents with a 36% increase in 2015, followed by 11% in 2016.RepublicansRepublican Diane Kelly is running for South Whitehall’s Board of Commissioners.Diane Kelly, 57, retired from the dental profession and found herself with more time to engage in her community. As with many others, Kelly’s proximity to the Ridge Farm project inspired a more urgent interest in local government.Kelly, a member of the township Planning Commission, said she believes the best option for helping to shape growth of the township is involvement with the comprehensive plan update, which is just getting underway. When possible, Kelly believes the township should be getting open space from developers rather than taking fees or money offered in lieu of such designs.Kelly believes her management background could help with personnel matters and her financial background will help with crafting budgets and finding efficiencies in the township.Republican Michael K. Wolk is running for South Whitehall Board of Commissioners.Michael Wolk, 65, a retired Air Products project manager, found himself part of the leadership of a grassroots movement of residents opposing Ridge Farm and formed the group Concerned Citizens of South Whitehall. Wolk said that if elected he’d work to change the zoning rules in the township to limit other developments on such a large scale. In favor of buying up open space and preserving farmland, Wolk said he’d want residents to determine if such a plan warrants a tax hike to fund.Wolk said he’s also concerned about the township’s financial management over the year. Decades of flat taxes led to enormous hikes that doubled the rate in five years’ time. Wolk said he’d find more cost-efficient ways to operate departments and would be willing to turn down projects that weren’t vital. When commissioners vote, Wolk said he’d push for explanations by each so that residents understood how each official reached a given conclusion.Republican Tom Utsch is running for South Whitehall’s Board of Commissioners.Tom Utsch, 54, the founder and manager of his own boutique software company, said he was encouraged to run by supporters when he spoke up during the meetings regarding the Ridge Farm development. He’s heard from many residents, he said, who agree that there is a disconnect between residents and commissioners on the vision for the township.Utsch said he’d be a more aggressive advocate for township residents’ needs, willing to use the board’s leverage over a project to eke out more improvements or open space. Property rights may be codified in law, he said, but so are those pertaining to the environment and rules about traffic and congestion.Utsch said he wants to see more fiscal restraint when it comes to budgeting as well. If revenue is increasing because of development and growth, Utsch said residents should not need to pitch in tax money on top of those dollars.Republican Vincent Quinn is running for the South Whitehall Board of Commissioners.Vincent Quinn, 63, who works at a transportation company and serves as president of the Greenawalds Fire Company, is running for a commissioner post for the first time because he worries the township is losing its identity with the surge of growth. Quinn said he’s amassed three years of experience related to this very subject during his time on the South Whitehall Planning Commission.The work on crafting a new comprehensive plan will be essential in making sure the township’s growth coincides with residents’ vision of their community, Quinn said. He’d like to see the township take steps to better encourage public involvement — be it for general input on a project or for larger efforts like the comprehensive plan work.Republican Matthew Mulqueen is running for South Whitehall’s Board of Commissioners.Matthew Mulqueen, 56, an account manager for a logistics company, is running for reelection after wrapping up his first four-year term on the board. A South Whitehall native who spent 25 years in the armed services, Mulqueen said his time on the board has been marked with progress for the township.Mulqueen said the township has made great strides in recent years to streamline operations, including the effort to bring the township sewer authority within the township’s jurisdiction. He cited the expansion work on the Jordan Greenway as recreation progress and the modernization and sustainability efforts of the police and fire departments as public safety improvements.But he said there’s still a need to push for financial stability and move away from tax hikes by finding more efficient ways to spend money and resources. He cited the proposed renovation efforts for the municipal building, which he said are essential, as an example of commissioners’ diligence in tackling a problem without unduly burdening residents. Estimates for the work range from $7.4 million to $8.8 million and there are no plans to increase taxes to cover the price.
Source: Morningcall