A controversial project in the Lehighton Area School District has more hurdles before it can become a reality.

The Carbon County Planning Commission recommended rejecting the proposed $32.5 million Lehighton elementary center due to several areas of noncompliance with Lehighton land development ordinances.The commission recommended that no land development occur until all permits and approvals are acquired by state and county agencies and approved by Lehighton.The plans call for developing 83.83 acres of land near the existing high school and include an approximate 100,000-square-foot center that houses kindergarten through fifth grades, as well as create new access drives for Indian Lane, Stadium Access Drive and a driveway to the main north parking lot.Last month, the new school board voted 5-3 to put a moratorium on any new PlanCon filings or approvals on the center to allow the three new board members to be educated on the project and any alternatives. The project has been a contentious matter with many voicing their objections to consolidating the elementary schools into one.Ivan Meixell, county planner, outlined a 24 areas in the plan that do not conform with Lehighton's ordinances.Major problems include:• The district requesting a waiver from a requirement that states the preliminary plan must be approved before the final plan submission. The plan as submitted was submitted for preliminary/final plan approval.• A soil erosion and sedimentation control plan and permit approval from the conservation district and Department of Environmental Protection must be obtained for earth disturbance activities.• Soils that are part of wetlands near the development area should be clearly labeled on the plans. The new bike cross-country trail, which would impact possible wetlands and flood plain areas, needs to be detailed better.• Lehighton Water Authority should review the plan to make sure there is an adequate water supply for the additional structure at the site.• The plan should be approved by the Lehighton Power and Light Department and the Lehighton Sewer Authority. A revised sewage facilities planning module for the appropriate number of EDUs for the center should be submitted to the borough, county and DEP to review before final plan approval. An agreement with the sewer authority to allow access from the pump station for the emergency access should also be completed.• New Highway Occupancy Permits for the proposed access driveways are required from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The Transportation Impact Study recommends Mahoning Street be widened and re-striped along the westbound approach to Indian Lane to allow for an extension of the existing left turn lane. In addition, re-striping for a left turn lane are recommended for Bridge and South Ninth street and South Ninth and Union street intersections.• The engineer should demonstrate the ability for the school buses to access the new parking lot and parking spaces.• A development agreement with the borough should guarantee the installation of curbings, sidewalks, off-street parking, parking lot lights and stormwater management facilities.Meixell said that he has questions with that because it appears that in large storm events, ponding will occur and possibly cause damage to the new parking area.Rob Walsh, engineer for EI Associates, who attended the meeting, said that the district had addressed a number of those comments already and will be resubmitting the revised plans to the borough this week.A few commission members asked Walsh some questions regarding the proposed access roads and what measures are in place to prevent the building from sinking.In other matters, the commission recommended conditional plan approval to Edward J. and Nicole R. Kane of Summit Hill for a proposed lot line revision at 336/338 E. Ludlow St. The plans call for combining two lots into one.