Snyder’s-Lance Inc. Gets Green Light to Expand

Expansion plans for the Snyder’s-Lance Inc. distribution center at 618 Selvaggio Drive in cleared the township's Zoning Hearing Board Tuesday night.

The company requested a front yard setback variance, which was unanimously approved.

Paul Szewczak, a principal at Liberty Engineering in Allentown, spoke to the board on behalf of Snyder’s-Lance. He explained that the company wants to double its building by adding 6,000 square feet. The addition would be used as a warehouse, he said.

Snyder’s-Lance sought a variance on the minimal front yard setback for the Daniels Road side of the building. Szewczak said that Daniels Road runs behind the company and since the property has a road on both sides, the distribution center technically has two front yards, he said.

The original 6,000-square-foot building sits on a 2.2-acre lot, Szewczak said, and was built in 1993 when the setback for a front yard in a light industrial park was 50 feet. The zoning ordinance has since changed, requiring a front yard setback of 75 feet.

“[The plans were] all compliant in 1993,” Szewczak said.

The proposed expansion is 1,500 square feet smaller than the company's original plan, which made room for a 7,500-square-foot expansion, according to Szewczak.

Despite the decrease in size, the addition would still be 25 feet from Daniels Road, Szewczak said. Since Daniels Road is a straight shot, however, board members determined that the addition would not impede a driver’s line of sight.

April Cordts, the township's solicitor, asked Szewczak if there would be increased truck traffic, because of the increase in goods.

Mike Anderson, corporate counsel at Snyder’s of Hanover, explained that there won’t be any additional delivery routes. The trucks currently used will carry more of the company’s products and less partner brands. There will be delivery of products for other companies only when there is enough room on the trucks.

“Some additional trucks will come in, but no additional routes will come out,” Anderson said. “We would like more routes in time.”

Szewczak noted that there won't be any additional employees for the site, and the site is ready to build upon. It's really just a matter of clearing grass and top soil, he said.

Robert Hicks, chairman of the Zoning Hearing Board, said he didn't mind granting the variance.

“It was preplanned, and we changed the game,” he said.

Although thoughts of expansion were included in the 1993 plans, the company didn't need the extra space until now, Szewczak said.

The distribution center is now handling more products, Szewczak added, because Snyder’s of Hanover -- based in Hanover, York County -- acquired the North Carolina-based Lance Snack Foods in 2010. The companies merged to form Snyder’s-Lance Inc.