Discussion during the first day of a public hearing regarding a potential Amazon distribution center in Churchill revolved mostly around traffic, a concern voiced by many residents for months.

Texas-based Hillwood Development has proposed building a 2.6 million-square-foot distribution and logistics facility for Amazon at the former site of the George Westinghouse Research Park in Churchill.

For several months, residents have outlined a plethora of concerns — including worries related to traffic, the environment and noise and light pollution. Hillwood Development has attempted to address those concerns at borough council and planning commission meetings, though a group of Churchill residents continues to protest the development.

Concerned citizens have protested outside of the borough building during recent meetings, with many imploring local officials to allow them to participate in public meetings and hearings in person. Churchill is continuing to use Zoom to facilitate such meetings, with local officials citing continued covid-19 concerns.

The Churchill Planning Commission recently voted to recommend the plan. Following the public hearing, which began Monday and is slated to continue Thursday, Churchill Council will make a final determination on a conditional use application for the site. A separate permit for land development would be pursued after that.

On Monday, Chris Prisk, a senior project manager at Langan Engineering, presented the results of traffic studies conducted on behalf of Hillwood Development. The traffic study process began in November 2019, with the most up-to-date traffic study figures predating the covid-19 pandemic, he said.

Prisk said their traffic study uses traffic numbers that are “higher than what we actually anticipate occurring.”

Dwight Ferguson, an attorney retained by residents opposing the facility, argued their studies weren’t updated enough to be considered accurate.

“If you haven’t actually done any counts since before March of 2020, how could you possibly know whether the traffic counts today are high or not?” he asked.

Prisk cited PennDOT reports showing that traffic now is lower than pre-pandemic levels and said he believed that trend would likely continue. PennDOT, he said, provided guidance regarding what data could be used for a traffic study considering the pandemic’s impact on travel.

The current proposal involves replacing a flashing traffic signal at the intersection of McCrady and Beulah roads with a full traffic signal, adding turning lanes at some intersections and widening roads in certain places.

Prisk testified that traffic from the site would not adversely affect the Churchill community.

PennDOT signed off on the plans, according to Prisk, though Ferguson claimed that PennDOT did not offer final approval of them.

Several Churchill residents also posed questions and voiced concerns regarding the traffic study.

There will be additional testimony regarding traffic from engineers hired by the borough during future public hearing dates, said Churchill solicitor Gavin Robb.

Brad Griggs, a senior manager from Amazon who serves on the company’s economic development team, offered details regarding Amazon’s plans for the site. The company plans to construct an Amazon robotics sortable fulfillment center, which he called the most “state-of-the-art” center the company operates.

“We’re excited about the potential opportunity here,” Griggs said.

The site will operate around the clock and employ at least 1,000 to 1,500 full-time employees with benefits, Griggs said. Starting pay would be $15 an hour, he said, with management positions available starting at $60,000 annually.

Lafe Metz, a lawyer with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney who represents Hillwood Development, acknowledged the widespread concerns and questions from Churchill residents. He said the developers have listened “attentively” to those comments and made several changes to the plans in response.

Ferguson requested that three council members — Diane Law, Matt Castiglia and Council President Jay Dworin — recuse themselves from the proceedings, claiming they made public statements in support of the development or similar developments.

The decision on whether to participate in the proceedings, Robb said, is up to the council members themselves. The comments Ferguson referred to were made prior to the submission of the conditional use application and in reference to a zoning amendment by council that would allow this type of development, Robb said.

The three council members participated in Monday’s hearing.

Monday’s public hearing lasted five hours and will continue at 6 p.m. Thursday. Officials said the public hearing may continue into next week. Ferguson requested hearing dates during the first week of August.

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