Tally of Letters to Plainfield Township Supervisors on Rezoning:
29 Support Rezoning, 499 Opposed!

We share the results of a Right to Know request by resident Gary Winchilla. He writes the following:

Something stinks in Plainfield township and it’s more than just the dump.

On August 15, 2025, I submitted a Right to Know request to Plainfield township for “Copies of all correspondence to Plainfield Township expressing Support OR Opposition to the Waste Management expansion and the Waste Management/GSC application to rezone land from Farm and Forest for a new solid waste processing and disposal district.

This rezoning request was reviewed at a public hearing on August 27, 2025, and ultimately approved by the Plainfield township board of supervisors with a 3-2 vote on that same night.

I received the information related to the Right to Know request on September 2, 2025, and have had the opportunity to do an independent analysis of the copies provided. The analysis included a basic tally of all correspondence that supports the rezoning/landfill expansion and all correspondence in opposition to the rezoning/landfill expansion. The analysis also includes the type of entity that sent the correspondence (i.e. business or organization, resident, etc.).

While reviewing the Right to Know information, it was noticed that there were multiple copies of several of the correspondences that were sent to the township. Every effort was made to identify the duplicates and only include the first copy found for the analysis. Additionally, if multiple letters or types of correspondence were sent from the same individual or persons, only the first correspondence identified was included in the analysis. Finally, it was also noticed that the Right to Know request included 15 letters of support/thank you letters from 2004, which were unrelated to the current 2025 rezoning request. There were also 7 Thank you letters to Waste Management for donations made to local organizations, however these letters made no mention of the rezoning request/landfill expansion. For this reason, those 15 letters from 2004 and additional 7 thank you letters were excluded.

Results of the Analysis:

Correspondence “Supporting” the rezoning request/landfill expansion

15 – Businesses, organizations, Fire Departments or neighboring municipality
14 – Residents (of Plainfield township or neighboring municipalities)

Correspondence with “Neutral” stance on the rezoning request/landfill expansion

1 – Neighboring municipality

Correspondence “Opposing” the rezoning request/landfill expansion

499 – Residents (of Plainfield township or neighboring municipalities)

Observations:

Those showing support for the rezoning request/landfill expansion were mainly concerned about the financial implications of the landfill ceasing operations in the future. The financial implications mainly include loss of tax revenue and loss of donations historically received from WM.

Those opposed to the landfill expansion, were more concerned about long term negative impacts to Plainfield township, the neighboring communities and its residents. The negative impacts include health concerns caused by landfills, loss of property value to homes located near the proposed landfill expansion, odors from the landfill, loss of open space and farmland, loss of potential use of the land once occupied by a landfill and concerns of future financial hardships as the landfill expansion is not a long term financial benefit to the township and neighboring communities.

It’s clear, that the majority of those that took the time to express their opinion on the future of Plainfield township and neighboring communities, oppose the request to rezone land from Farm and Forest for a new solid waste processing and disposal district and do not support the WM landfill expansion.

It’s unfortunate that there are 3 Plainfield township supervisors that refuse to consider the voice of the majority. I think I know where that foul smell is coming from now…

Editor's Note: This analysis of written letters in opposition does not include the signatures from our change.org petition, which were submitted for the record at the same hearing Gary's RTK request was approved. At the time of the hearing, that petition was at 428 signatures. It is now close to 500 as well.

At the 8/27 hearing, Supervisor Ken Field stacked a6000 papers on a table behind him and referenced those papers in his remarks as residents who provided no letters regarding rezoning. Next to it, there was a much smaller pile of papers representing residents who did provide a letter concerning rezoning.

For context, Plainfield Township has a population of about 6200 people who reside in about 2500 households. Skewing his measurement of people's opinion on rezoning to include infants, children, and those with disabilities that may prevent them from civic engagement appears to be a tactic to distract residents from the actual opinions the community sent in, which are overwhelmingly against rezoning.

Results from 9/10 Hearing on Rezoning

Ordinance #427 (Changing conditional use to use by right): A motion to approve was made by Ken Field there was no second so the motion died for a lack of a second. No vote.

Ordinance #428 (Steep slope variance): passed 3-1. Yes: Field, Kemmerer, and Itterly. No: Borger Absent: Fairchild.

Results from 8/27/25 Hearing on Rezoning

To Our Incredible Community,

Thank you. Thank you for showing up, for speaking up, and for standing together. On August 27th, we saw firsthand the power of a united community. In the face of a predetermined outcome, you didn't back down. You wrote letters, you signed petitions, you attended the public meetings, and you delivered powerful, heartfelt speeches that left no room for doubt about where our community stands. The passion in that room was a force to be reckoned with, and it came from all of you.

The vote was a devastating loss at 3-2, but the people's voice was heard loud and clear. While three supervisors chose to ignore the health and environmental concerns we raised and proceed with the rezoning, we know that our message resonated far beyond that room. We have proven that our community is not afraid to stand up for our farm and forest land, and for the health and well-being of our neighbors.

Please don't mistake this setback for a failure. This effort was a monumental success in bringing us all together, and that effort continues. We saw people from all walks of life—farmers, families, business owners, and environmental advocates—unite for a common cause. That spirit of passion and collaboration is our greatest strength, and it's something that can never be undone.

Your voice matters. It matters to us, and it will be heard again. Let's remember the strength we found in one another and carry that forward into whatever comes next.

With Deep Gratitude,

The Preserve Plainfield Team

A knight helmet in front of a shield depicting families on one side, and farmland on the other. The text Preserve Plainfield arcs in the foreground. Around the top the slogan "stop wm landfill expansion" can be seen.

Looking for a 1 page summary of what's at stake? Here is a Media Briefing Document, last updated May 2025

Preserve Plainfield obtained emails through Right To Know request revealing WM representatives pushing to meet with Plainfield Township supervisors in secret to conceal their discussions from the public. They specifically asked to meet with supervisors in groups of 2 or less to avoid a quorum so they would not be subject to the Sunshine Act - a law that exists to preserve transparency in government for the public. This video reviews the emails and breaks down the implications.

TO BE CLEAR: We are not accusing Waste Management or Plainfield Township Supervisors of violating the Sunshine Act. We are observing the efforts that were made skirt the provisions of the Sunshine Act. While they are technically complying with the Sunshine Act, they are defying the purpose of the law to ensure transparency to the public.

2025 Primary Election

On May 20th, 2025, the voters of Plainfield Township roundly rejected landfill expansion by supporting Jane Mellert by an overwhelming margin over incumbent supervisors Jonathan Itterly and Ken Fairchild in the Republican primary. Joe Colosi, also opposed to landfill expansion, led a successful write in campaign in the Democratic primary. Both candidates proceed to the 2025 General Election to fill 2 and 6 year seats currently expiring for Itterly and Fairchild.

This sends a strong signal that the community is opposed to expansion, and the board should take note.

Indeed, in this article covering the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's review of the proposed expansion, Chairman Christopher Amato said "So Plainfield has borne the burden of our solid waste for a long time… long enough, long enough... The voting public has spoken, and on many levels, this is just wrong."

What's up with this letter I got from 'Plainfield Township Concerned Citizens?'

It would be an understatement to say that the information in this letter is inaccurate and misleading. Jane Mellert has offered a full rebuttal setting the facts straight here, and Lehigh Valley Live has further reporting on the inaccuracy of this letter.

Where is WM hoping to expand?

The proposed expansion area includes over 200 additional acres of farm and forest property that has been snatched up over time under a corporation called "Slate Spring Farms LLC", Managed by Gary Perin, with the possible intent to sell the property to Waste Management.

While they cash in on off dumping trash in our back yard, the resulting landfill acreage would be larger than the entire borough of Pen Argyl, and expand directly adjacent to where our kids play sports at the Green & White Youth Association Athletic Fields. Even with the current landfill, it often stinks at the fields during games and practices. Our kids deserve to learn and grow their love of sports without the stink of trash hanging over them.

As you can see from the map, GCSL also owns even more property even closer to the fields in that direction. How long until they come back again wanting to expand right up to the outfield fence of our fields?

Untitled spreadsheet

GET INVOLVED

Sign The Petition

Sign our change.org petition to add your name to the list in opposition to Waste Management expansion in Plainfield Township.

Want to lend a hand in our efforts to preserve Plainfield? Fill out our contact form.

Other Considerations

Take into consideration the quality of life and real estate value for your neighbor that lives near the area being considered for rezoning. Evaluate the Harms vs the Benefits. We have all heard the term “Do unto others as you would want them to do to you”
Research the possible health problems of living near a landfill, which we have listed on our Risks & Concerns page
Be aware that a new Solid Waste District would mean a truck crossing over Pen Argyl Road every minute at a new intersection.
Plainfield Township has hosted a dump/landfill for over 70 years. Know that the Township can thrive without a landfill.
Tell the current Plainfield Supervisors we had our fair share and don’t want the area rezoned. Board Members - Ken Field, Nolan Kemmerer, Jonathan Itterly, Ken Fairchild and Glenn Borger address - 6292 Sullivan Trail Nazareth, PA 18064

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Tally of Letters to Plainfield Township Supervisors on Rezoning: 29 Support Rezoning, 499 Opposed!