Lower Towamensing is expected to render a decision Tuesday on Blue Mountain Resort's expansion plans for a condominium hotel and spa.

The resort is also working on plans for a six-story hotel/condo to be built near Summit Lodge on Summit Lodge Road.Vista Lodge Residence Club would consist of 80 condo units and would consist of a penthouse, studio and one-, two- and three-bedroom condominiums, which will be fully furnished and will include full kitchens.Hotel amenities and services would include: a member's club room, fitness center, heated pool, hot tubs, spa services, valet service, bell service, concierge services, daily housekeeping and complete year-round property management.Plans for the hotel are also contingent upon the granting of several zoning variances by the township's zoning hearing board.These variances involve the height of the building and setbacks. The ordinance permits buildings to be 50 feet tall and requires 50-foot setbacks on the front, sides and rear of the structure. The proposed hotel would be 85-feet-tall and would be within 5 feet of the Appalachian Trail easement.The trail is another 300-400 feet from that point.The township's zoning hearing board met in April, but opted to weight the decision instead of deciding that evening. The board will reconvene at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the municipal building for a public meeting to decide on the issue.Earlier this week, Blue Mountain Resort CEO Barbara Green said expansion plans for a new condominium hotel and outdoor hot springs spa complex are contingent upon the approval of the PennEast Pipeline Project.The PennEast Pipeline Project passed a hurdle in April when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said in its Final Environmental Impact Statement that construction and operation of the project would impose a minimal environmental impact.The pipeline would run about 120 miles through the Blue Mountain Resort area on its way to New Jersey and would cost about $120 billion to build.In February, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection granted Water Quality Certification to the project, fulfilling the first of two significant hurdles. The certification is required under section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act.The pipeline project was strongly contested by area environmental groups.The project now moves on to seeking approvals from permitting agencies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.If the permits are granted, PennEast Pipeline Co. LLC plans to begin construction in the second half of 2018."Thanks to PennEast, we will be able to access a source for our natural gas needs to fuel our expansion, in addition to a source that will feed the region's growing natural gas demand," Green said in a Letter to the Editor."Blue Mountain Resort is committed to preserving our environment, being an innovative location for outdoor recreation and a growing economic engine for Carbon County and the region. The PennEast pipeline will help the resort fulfill all these goals."The resort's hot spa would be located on land already cleared for a water park, Green said. She said the design for the water park has changed from traditional type prevalent in the area to one more like a mineral spa.