Conservation to Industrial

Presented by Thomas Russell

Published 9/14/2025

My name is Tom Russell and I am a 35 year resident of Packer Township. My family lives in the Hollow just downstream from the Tamaqua Area Water Authority spillway.

Quakake, as my Mom and Dad referred to this valley, is a memorable part of my childhood. My wife, Paula and I raised our family here. We feel blessed!

Paula and I request that all three Supervisors reject CAN-DO’s request to rezone two tax parcels, ID 131A-4-A7 and 131-46-B23.02 from a C-1 conservation zone to 1-1 industrial. Reject the same decision the Planning Commission made on May 20, 2025 as did the Supervisors back in July, 2021 regarding a similar application. We commend CAN-DO for their accomplishments over the past 70 years. We thank Dr. Dessen for his vision and belief in the mining scarred mountain people. The anthracite mining industry collapsed after WW II and this crippled the local economy.

As children we put our dimes into CAN-DO’s collection containers because we believed! This community appeal provided CAN-DO with $14,000 to purchase the first 500 acres in Valmont Industrial Park. CAN-DO, thank you for your service!

June 2025, we no longer need to attract industries. Warehouses and data centers are at our doorsteps, meaning our well kept 300 year old secrets, (Quakake Valley, the Quakake and Wetzel Creeks and the Palustrine Wetland Forests enveloping them).

The applicant, CAN-DO has no specific land development proposal to justify the request to rezone on a 40 year old oversight in addition to a contiguous industrial area in adjoining Banks Township. When questioned about the history of the C-1 conservation zone, CAN-DO seemed to have no additional knowledge stating, “environmental concerns” could be “addressed after” the re-zoning change. They said this was the only path to a responsible decision.

This prompted me to visit the Carbon County Property website to look at surrounding properties. There’s a new kid on the block, NP Hazleton Holdings LLC (aka North Point). They acquired over 1000 acres in Packer and Banks Townships. Known to us as Spring Mountain Top, it is a spiritual place of the Lenni Lenape tribes. Now primarily zoned a C-1 conservation district in Packer Township, it overlooks my ancestral settlement in Beaver Meadows. Lucky relatives moved to Quakake.

We work hard to be a friend to all neighbors!

CAN-DO’s 30 acres and most of North Points 1000+ acres fall into Carbon County’s designated “unique natural areas” as seen in its Comprehensive and Greenway Plan, (Area 36-Spring Mountain, see map-pgs. 33/243).

We ask that North Point join us in preserving this spectacular appalachian mountain and its ever intertwined Quakake Valley. You have already approached the hunting clubs about developing a partnership. We applaud this first step. Here is your chance to give back!

North Point, you must embrace this gift. You are environmental stewards of the Carbon County’s designated Unique Natural Area-Spring Mountain, a Palustrine wetland, a positve step forward. Spring Mountain, the Quakake Creek Watershed has supplied critical water to “we the people of Packer Township” and the idylic farms in our peaceful Valley for 300 hundred years. This unique ecosystem purifies our lives. Please remember our Quakake forefathers, the Lenni Lenape, a peaceful people who built alliances and respected this land. As a young boy scout, I was inducted into the Order of the Arrow in a tap out ceremony and survival weekend at Camp Rotowanis. We were challenged to live a life of service. The Lenni Lenape, are our positive spirit guides.

Just as important, this ecosystem serves as a major water source for Hazleton and to a lesser degree, Tamaqua. Quakake Creek is a PA F and G Commission HQCWF. Native trout, crayfish, blue heron, otters, black bear, ruffed grouse, deer, bobcats and raccoons are found here. Turtles live in Paula’s garden and the turkeys love our stone road. The spirit of the wolf can be heard during the full moon. These last three represent the Lenni-Lenape sub-tribes. We respect their world that we are sharing. The bald eagle has returned. We spot huge grayfish in the creek as native trout and water bugs swim past. This tells us that the Quakake Creek could be updated to a EQCWF.

We have been down this road before. In 1993 we participated in a public hearing regarding Northeastern Power Company’s application for a mining permit. The major concern was the fault lines; the Bears Head Horseshoe fault intersected by three vertical faults that travel the footprint of the Quakake Creek Basin as it runs along the base of Spring Mountain. Another major concern was the closeness of this project to an EPA Superfund Site known as McAdoo Associates. This site was capped just south of Spring Mountain in McAdoo.

We prevailed. Saved was the Quakake Creek ecosystem. This was accomplished in collaboration with the Greenfire Coalition and Hazleton Water Authority. Contact with state representatives was essential. Let us not let our guard down now!

The valley is alive with rumors. One of them is that North Point claims the Data Center Project in Packer Township is a done deal. If that is true, let’s make sure it happens in an ecologically responsible manner. We currently see no Packer Township advantage to support the rumored conclusion.

Any township re-zoning or permitting for significant construction should require formal input from Carbon County Planning Commission, Hazleton and Tamaqua Area Water Authorities, PA Dept. of Environmental Protection, Delaware River Basin Commission, PA F and G Commission, PA Dept. of Agriculture and PA DCNR. Let’s not forget input from the hunting and fishing clubs for their knowledge of native wildlife, vegetation and terrain.

Development is being fast tracked in PA! Governor Shapiro promised to protect local zoning control while promoting the Amazon Data Center in Berwick. Unfortunately, pending state legislation is intending to strip away local government powers regarding these matters. Let’s insure the identified stakeholders do a thorough analysis.

We need to be vigilant. Noe is the time to contact all elected representatives on the state, county and local levels. Here is our chance for government to work with and for us.

Thank you for your service!