A recreational park plan in Penn Forest Township received the green light from the Carbon County Planning Commission on Tuesday.

During the board's monthly meeting, the members voted to recommend plan approval for the Penn Forest Township parcel plan, which names the Jim Thorpe Area School District as the owner of the land and Penn Forest Township Board of Supervisors as the developers. The plans call for subdividing a 179.33-acre lot.Prior to the vote, Ivan O. Meixell Jr., planner, explained that about 30 acres of this plot, located along Route 903, across from Bear Creek Lakes, will be developed into a recreational park by Penn Forest Township Supervisors. The remaining land, which is owned by Jim Thorpe School District, has been a possible location for a new middle school that has been discussed over the years.Meixell reviewed the plan and his investigation with the commission and then read his recommendation, which stated, "The Carbon County Planning Commission, in reviewing the above subdivision believes we could find no areas of major non-compliance with the Penn Forest Township Land Development Ordinances regarding this proposed subdivision."He suggested the commission recommend approval for this subdivision.According to previous articles published in the TIMES NEWS, the plans to create a recreational park in Penn Forest Township has been in the works for years.The township obtained a $225,000 grant last year from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to develop the park.In other matters, the commission also voted on the following plans:• Mildred Solana and Rose Evancho received plan approval for their proposed subdivision at 438 Buck Mountain Road in Lausanne Township. The plans call for subdividing 48.385 acres into three lots.• Duane Schleicher received preliminary conditional plan rejection for his proposed subdivision in East Penn Township. The plan calls for subdividing 102.6 acres of land, located near 247 Berger Creek Road and the intersection of West Lizard Creek Road, into four lots. The plan, as submitted had numerous problems that need to be addressed.• Ronald A. Walbert received plan approval for his proposed subdivision/lot line revision plan at 910 La Montage Drive in Lower Towamensing Township. The plan calls for subdividing 2.574 acres into two lots.• Carbon Associates LLC, received plan approval for its land development plan. The plan calls for constructing a 180-foot self-supported monopole communication tower and support compound at the intersection of Covered Bridge Road and Lower Smith Gap Road in Lower Towamensing Township.