Franklin Township is having discussions with St. Luke’s University Health Network and in turn is proposing a new health care zoning district.

Township secretary Brenda Neeb said that a representative from St. Luke’s, along with the township solicitor, presented the overlay district to the township planning commission and Carbon County Planning Commission.

The township’s board of supervisors plans to hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. May 21 to discuss the possible creation of a Healthcare Overlay District.

St. Luke’s plans have not been made public.

Contacted earlier this week, Sam Kennedy, corporate communications director for St. Luke’s, wouldn’t say whether St. Luke’s was planning to build a health care facility in the township.

“I can’t confirm or deny that we have a real estate transaction in the works in one place or another. Obviously St. Luke’s is a pretty big network, and we’re interacting with the world in all different places within our footprint.”

He said the network would confirm when it’s ready.

“At this point, I can’t say whether or not we have something in the works up there or not,” Kennedy said.

Preparations are being made.

County planner Ivan Meixell, in a letter to the township dated April 17, said the county planning commission has reviewed the proposal in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

“Based on our review, the Carbon County Planning Commission believes that the proposed change to the zoning ordinance to provide hospitals and other health care campus settings represents sound land use planning and is consistent with the current land use practices,” Meixell said in the letter. “We, therefore, recommend approval.”

Neeb said the township is in the midst of updating its zoning and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance as part of a joint venture with Lehighton Borough and Mahoning Township.

As part of the zoning ordinance amendment, a health care campus is defined in the township’s proposed zoning overlay district as “an integrated use of development, including, in one building or a combination of buildings some combination of hospital, health care facilities and health care services providing a broad range of uses that individually and collectively contribute to the promotion of wellness and enable the improvement and maximum recovery of health from physical and mental diseases, illnesses and injuries; provide opportunities for educational advancement, learning, and research related to wellness and health; and create a logistical transition between the existing community and health care uses that will protect and preserve the character of the surrounding neighborhood.”

St. Luke’s already has a large presence in the Lehighton area, with its Care Now facility at 575 S. Ninth St. off Route 443 in Lehighton, which opened in June 2017; as well as merging Blue Mountain Health System’s Gnaden Huetten and Palmerton campuses into its network at the beginning of the year.