This week brought a major win for our community. After a packed and emotionally charged meeting, Middletown Township officials voted against the proposed 330,000-square-foot warehouse that would have been built on the former Franklin Mint property along Baltimore Pike.
As a local resident of Ponds Edge, I’ve seen firsthand how strongly our neighborhoods felt about this proposal. The plan, put forth by Outrigger Industrial LLC, would have brought a high-volume logistics hub right between two residential communities: Ponds Edge and Franklin Station. That would have meant increased traffic, more air and noise pollution, and major safety concerns for emergency service vehicles already navigating a busy stretch of Route 1. With Crozer closing and Riddle Hospital taking on more patients, now is not the time to increase congestion in this critical corridor.
Many of us moved here with the understanding that this parcel would be used for retail or community-focused development, not a massive warehouse. A petition opposing the project collected over 1,300 signatures, and both the township planning commission and Delaware County Planning Commission recommended against it.
While Outrigger hinted at possible legal action following the denial, for now, this decision reflects the power of a united community standing up for what makes sense and what protects our quality of life.
I’m proud to be a resident of Middletown Township and even prouder of how we all came together to fight this big business proposal. Community matters — and this week, our voices were heard.