The remediation of the former New Jersey Zinc Company's West Plant continues to make progress.

That was among the information shared last week as representatives from seven municipalities gathered at Neffs Hotel & Other Side Restaurant, Neffs, for a joint luncheon.The program featured a municipal update, as borough and township officials recapped the past year, discussed road work and planned projects, business development and growth, budget, and changes in government.A panel of officials from Palmerton, Slatington, and Walnutport boroughs, along with Washington, Heidelberg, North Whitehall and Whitehall townships participated in the program.Kevin Schmidt, president of the Greater Northern Lehigh Chamber of Commerce, welcomed those in attendance.The speakersAmong the speakers were Dave Fink, supervisor, Heidelberg Township; Chris Olivia, mayor, Palmerton Borough; Walter Niedermeyer, mayor, Slatington Borough; Patrice Hunsicker, councilwoman, Walnutport Borough; Todd Weidman, township manager, Washington Township; Ed Hozza, mayor, Whitehall Township; and Jeff Bartlett, township manager, North Whitehall Township.PalmertonOlivia said the biggest project in Palmerton is the remediation of 139 acres at the former NJZ West Plant site by Northface Development."The goal is to redevelop it into a business park," Olivia said. "Currently, more than 40 acres have been capped 5 to 12 feet in depth, and this part will be offered for development by the end of this year."Olivia said the entire site's completion is anticipated to be between two to three years.He said the present sketch plan anticipates this site to accommodate up to 27 separate building lots containing office, industrial and technology space, warehouse space, and paved parking areas. Seven acres will remain as green space, said Olivia, who added the company expects to generate in excess of 900 jobs through the total build-out of the project.Olivia said Northface has received National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System approval for the entire site and continues to upgrade its soil and erosion plan as it moves forward with the capping process. It also recently received approval from PennDOT regarding access to the site from Route 248, which is adjacent to the south of the site."The goal is to creatively remediate and redevelop this highly visible and historic location from a blight on the community to a state-of-the-art green business park, bringing Carbon County into Age of Technology and Environmental Design, and return the site to becoming a viable anchor for the community," he said.Other projects in the works include adding more parking spaces to the Palmerton Memorial Pool, which he said is the second largest in the state; the Lighting Committee is raising money to install underground wiring in the borough park; concerts sponsored by the Concourse Club of Palmerton will be held every Sunday evening as of the middle of June; a car show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 20 in the borough park; and three new Italian restaurants are on their way to the borough.SlatingtonIn Slatington, Niedermeyer said new lighting has been put up throughout the borough.WalnutportHunsicker said there are plans to replace Lock 24 of the Walnutport section of the Lehigh Canal.She also said there are plans to build a new boat launch.Additionally, two new car part stores, AutoZone and Advanced Auto Parts, are now located in the borough.Washington TownshipWeidman said he was recently appointed to the newly created township manager position in Washington Township.He also discussed the turnpike overpass that goes over Main Street and Emerald.Upcoming eventsThe GNLCC will host its 35th Annual Heritage Day Celebration July 4.The GNLCC will hold its annual picnic at the Walnutport Canal July 15.