Berks County · Bethel Township · #09-13989
Poultry barn operation on School Road
South side of School Road approximately 3,500 feet east of the intersection with Deck Drive., Bethel Township, PA · 119,400 sq ft non-residential, agricultural · 177.8 acres
About this project
Proposes three poultry barns, each 63 by 600 feet, plus a 60 by 100 foot manure storage structure on a 177.84-acre farm south of School Road in Bethel Township.
Official description: 3 poultry barns (63' x 600' ea.) and a manure storage structure (60'x100') and associated site improvements
- Developer
- Adam Light
- Engineer / designer
- Nye Consulting Services, Inc.
- Plan type
- Preliminary Land Development
- Land use
- Agricultural
- Water
- On Lot
- Sewer
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Reviewed
Filing history
- 2026-07-16 · #09-13989 · Preliminary Land Development · 119,400 sq ft
The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026
The county record describes a plan for three poultry barns on a 177.84-acre farm on the south side of School Road in Bethel Township, Berks County. Each barn would measure 63 by 600 feet. A separate 60 by 100 foot structure would store manure. The barns total about 119,400 square feet of floor area.
The record says the land is an existing farm, so the project adds livestock buildings to working farmland and does not convert open land to another use. It lists an individual landowner or applicant and an engineering and consulting firm as the filers.
No news coverage, meeting minutes, or developer web page was found for this site. Some online results concern a similar broiler-barn plan in a different Bethel Township, in Lebanon County. That plan is not connected to this project.
What it could mean nearby
- Poultry operations bring regular truck trips for feed delivery, bird pickup and manure hauling. The records do not give traffic numbers for School Road.
- Most of the 177.84 acres would stay as farmland, since the new buildings cover only a small part of the site.
- Neighbors may care about odor, manure handling and stormwater runoff. The records do not say how these would be managed.
Where it stands
A plan was filed with the county, most recently on 2026-07-16. No township approval or denial was found online. Next steps usually include review by the county planning commission and the township, along with any state agricultural or environmental permits that apply.
- Jul 16, 2026 Latest county planning filing for the poultry barn project
Want to weigh in? The Bethel Township supervisors and planning commission would normally review the plan. Residents can usually comment at their public meetings, and the township office can confirm dates.
Who's behind it
Adam Light
Planning terms explained
- Land development plan
- A detailed site plan that a township reviews before new buildings can be built.
- Manure storage structure
- A covered or lined facility that holds animal waste until it is spread on fields or hauled away.
- Setback
- The minimum distance a building must keep from a property line or neighboring home.
- Stormwater
- Rain runoff from roofs and paved areas, which a plan must manage so it does not harm neighbors or streams.
We searched the web for this project but found nothing beyond the county record, so this explanation is based on the filing alone. Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 1, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $23.9M
- ~1,194 roofing squares (assumes 1 story)
- ~298 tons of cooling (rule of thumb 400 sq ft/ton)