Churchill to vote this month on controversial Amazon distribution center

Churchill officials have set a date to vote on a controversial plan to turn the former George Westinghouse Research and Technology Park into an Amazon distribution center.

The seven-member borough council will meet at 6 p.m. on Dec. 21 to consider a proposal from Hillwood Development to build a 2.6-million-square-foot distribution and logistics facility for Amazon on the site at 1310 Beulah Road.

Since the project was announced in 2020, a number of residents have repeatedly voiced concerns about the development.

A number of them banded together to form Churchill Future, an organization that hosted protests against the proposed development and hired an attorney to represent them during public hearings, which were held in July and October.

Residents are concerned that the development would lead to increased air and light pollution as well as noise and traffic issues.

They’ve also objected to potential safety issues relating to the amount of truck traffic on residential roads where children walk and play, as well as impacts on stormwater and the value of homes near the site.

These objections persisted despite repeated efforts by the developer to address common concerns. Hillwood Development, based in Dallas, produced studies regarding traffic, noise and air and light pollution that indicated the development would not have negative impacts on the surrounding community.

Several residents, however, have claimed the traffic study was inaccurate or incomplete and therefore could not be used as the basis for additional studies regarding sound and pollution.

Supporters of the development say it could create more than 1,000 full-time jobs with benefits, plus tax revenue, which would include between $600,000 and $660,000 annually to Churchill and between $2.3 million and $2.5 million for Woodland Hills School District.

The borough’s planning commission in July unanimously voted to recommend the Amazon distribution center.

The recommendation does not clear the way for the project to proceed, but it will be considered when borough council makes its final decision.

In its recommendation, the planning commission outlined several conditions that would require the developer to meet certain requirements regarding issues such as traffic, parking, air quality, stormwater, noise, lighting and environmental issues.

Borough officials have previously said that the developer’s conditional-use application for the project must be approved if it meets the borough’s zoning requirements, unless those who object can provide evidence that it would be detrimental to public health, safety or the community’s general welfare.

If the project meets the conditions but the project is denied, the decision could be challenged in court.