Representatives for Max Performance, a Hatfield Township-based business that wants to build a facility for its operations in Hilltown, spoke at a late June meeting of the township board of supervisors in an effort aimed at assuaging residents’ concerns about the potential project.
Locals fear there will be negatives like an increase in traffic volume and danger, disruption from operations and loud trucks, and even diminished property values if the firm, which specializes in wholesaling parts for American muscle cars and trucks, sets up shop as it’s hoping to on a roughly three-acre property near Bethlehem Pike and Keystone Drive.
Still, representatives from Max Performance emphasized at the June 24 meeting that none of those ills are likely to occur if the business builds its hoped-for new facility.
According to the project engineer, FedEx and UPS would stop by once daily, while a tractor trailer might pop in once a month.
The number of employees working onsite would be around 11, as others work remotely. Some of those who commute to the site carpool. Bottom line: None of the vehicle traffic associated with Max Performance will lead to heavy new traffic loads, the company representative said.
Currently, Max Performance shares a space with other businesses in Hatfield Township. Hilltown residents may have seen big trucks parked at that property, but they’re not associated with Max Performance, company representatives said in trying to dispel what they characterized as rumors about the size of their operation.
In response to questions from residents, Eric Casperson, president of Max Performance, said the business doesn’t deal with chemicals or motors or handle hazardous/fire-hazardous materials.
Most basically, it assembles metal housings; picture a door lock or trunk lock that needs to be put together, he said. The machine in use is what Casperson described as a “key-cutting machine.”
“It’s a low-key operation,” he said, noting the vast majority of business occurs online. Customers, he said, aren’t typically visiting as if it was a retail store.
One resident asked why Max Performance’s development sketch plan showed five dock bays if there’s not much truck traffic. Casperson noted two of those bays would be used mainly for getting trash out of the building into dumpsters in an efficient way, adding this was still a sketch plan and could be modified.
Another local asked if Casperson would be willing to consider relocating the operation to another suitable site.
He said he’d be open to suggestions, but asserted that he’s been looking for the right place for years and this property is the only one he’s found locally that meets the various parameters. The project engineer noted that leasing commercial space isn’t a good option because available spots are either too big or too small — and all of them, he said, are overpriced.
Casperson is from the Telford area and employees live locally, including some from Hilltown, Souderton and Lansdale.
The discussion at the June 24 meeting was based on an informal sketch plan of the project.
If Max Performance does want to build, it will have to file a fully engineered formal development plan — something the company indicated it intends to do. Once that happens, the public will have a chance to attend and offer comments/questions at meetings that would be held before the Hilltown Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission, officials said.
Supervisors would ultimately need to grant final land development approval — which can be a lengthy process — for Max Performance to have the green light to build.
Township professionals noted that supervisors legally can’t just dismiss a project out of hand if it meets the requirements of local zoning and state law. Were they to do so, the township could get sued — and likely lose in court. Max Performance said its plan will comply with zoning regulations and not require variances.
Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.
