An Allentown businessman's plans to build a 25-acre private campground in Franklin Township received approval from the county.

During Tuesday's Carbon County Planning Commission meeting, members of the board voted to recommend plan approval to the resort plans proposed by Victor L. Frye, owner of Rock Street Development.Ivan O. Meixell Jr., planner for the commission, said that after reviewing the land development plans, the commission believes "the plan as submitted addresses final plan requirements of the Franklin Township Land Development Ordinances" and recommends the project be approved.He added that Frye has been working on this development plan for more than two years and has altered the plan to fit Franklin Township's requirements.One change, Meixell noted, was that instead of individual recreational buildings being built in one area of the development, a single recreational center will be built.The proposed member-only campground would be located on the former Otto Campgrounds at 1500 Rock St. in Franklin Township. The first phase of the resort includes 56 rental cottage units, a recreation center, lodge and social hall, five swimming pools, a waterfall, clubhouse and restaurant, tennis courts, hiking and biking trails and other recreational activities.This is not the first time the project has come before the board.On Aug. 21, 2007, the commission rejected the plans for the $10.9 million private resort after the issue of drainage on the property was addressed.At that meeting, Meixell explained that "the plan as submitted lacks minor preliminary plan requirements of the Franklin Township Land Development Ordinances."Conditions that needed to be changed before Frye was able to receive preliminary approval from the township included the total acreage, which conflicts in two areas of the current proposal; a plan outlining the proposed method of accommodating storm water from the resort's private access roadway; and obtaining additional township, county and state permits or approvals. These included storm water control and drainage plans, sedimentation and erosion control plans and a NPDES permit from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).Frye made changes to his plan and resubmitted it for approval in July 2008.At that time, the commission voted to recommend conditional preliminary plan approval for the Rock Street Development.Since then, Frye has worked to make necessary alterations and obtain all permits so the project can begin.In other matters, a proposed retail store plan in Palmerton received plan approval.During the meeting, a plan, submitted by Joseph J. and Deborah K. Bennett, which calls for the construction of a retail store and parking area at 541-569 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, was reviewed by the commission a second time.Meixell said that Bennett addressed and resolved everything on the list of items the commission provided in August, when the board rejected the plan.Other projects that were voted upon at the meeting include:• William G. and Catherine E. Drayton planned a proposed lot line revision at Box 32 E, SR940 in Kidder Township. The plans call for the combination of four lots into one lot. The plan received conditional plan rejection.• Estate of John A. Snyder Jr., Richard D. and Sheila A. Hyska, and Michael F. Hyska, executor, proposed a subdivision/lot line revision at 830 Snyder St., Jim Thorpe. Plans call for one lot of Snyder's to be subdivided and a piece of it combined with the Hyska lot. The plans received plan approval.• Barry L. Katz proposed a subdivision at 142A/B North Lake Drive, Lake Harmony, Kidder Township. The project received conditional plan rejection.