A proposed lodge in East Penn Township got the green light from Carbon County Planning Commission.

This week, the board voted to recommend conditional plan approval for the proposed Loft at Birch Wilds.Ivan O. Meixell Jr., county planner, said East Penn Township had already granted conditional final plan approval earlier this month, and noted that the plan had "no major areas of noncompliance with the East Penn Township Land Development Ordinances."Owners Cheryl Roger and Rhonda Roman are proposing an inn at 3236 W. Lizard Creek Road.According to an article published in the Times News, the plans call for a four-unit guest house and main lodge with indoor pool; a three-unit guest house; innkeeper's suite; barn/banquet hall; and the creation of an outdoor ceremony/event site.Dean Kercsmar, East Penn supervisor chairman, said at the time that for the main inn to be used prior to completion of the entire project, developers need to get a certificate of occupancy from the township, give the township a letter from the sewage enforcement officer authorizing use of an on-lot sewer system pending construction of a new system, submit plans showing how they will utilize the parking area at the main inn, and mark and pave at least one handicap accessible parkingspace.The township granted preliminary plan approval on May 5, 2014.In other matters, the county planning commission recommended plan approval for the proposed PA Solar Park phase II in Nesquehoning.In February, Nesquehoning Borough Council granted conditional preliminary/final plan approval for the second phase, subject to all conditions being met prior to work beginning.Conditions included drawing up a second developers agreement and project bond, receiving all necessary permits and everything outlined in the conditions set forth by Carbon County Planning Commission, Nesquehoning Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing Board, the borough engineer and Carbon County Conservation District, including phase I, meeting the 70 percent grass coverage clause around the solar panel arrays.Meixell said the plan had "no major areas of noncompliance with the Nesquehoning Borough Land Development Ordinances."The proposed PA Solar Park phase II will complete the 20-megawatt park that Con Edison Development began a few years ago.No details on the number of panels or the cost of the project were ever released by the company. The previously completed phase of the solar park, which was constructed by Green Energy Capital Partners of Conshohocken and operated by Con Edison, is located on land leased by the Kovatch family and contains 39,600 panels that generate 10 megawatts of electricity. The electricity generated is then sold to PPL Electric.The new phase will be located on land leased by Boca Holdings and Kovatch in the same area.The planning commission also voted on three other plans.• Recommended conditional plan approval for a minor subdivision, owned by Ralph and Anne Clark of Penn Forest Township, in the township.• Recommended conditional plan rejection for a land development project proposed by Garrett A. Kistler at the intersection of Fifth and Lehigh streets in Palmerton. The plans call for converting an existing structure into four apartment units with off-street parking.• Recommended plan approval to a proposed subdivision, owned by Karen S. Krause, at Pleasant Valley West, Section C, in Penn Forest Township. The plans call for combining two lots to create a 2.205-acre lot.