A long-awaited subdivision of a Lehighton Area School District elementary school property is finalized.

The school board voted this week to approve the final plan for the Franklin Elementary subdivision, which splits the property into two parcels. One parcel, totaling 13.6 acres, will remain with the district and include the school as well as the soccer field and track above it. The other parcel, 11.8 acres, will go to Franklin Township and include four baseball and softball fields used by the Franklin Township Athletic Association.

After much discussion, the district voted 6-3 in July to give the fields to the township at no cost with a clause that they revert to district ownership should they cease to be used for recreational use in the future.

At the time, Lehighton director David Bradley Sr. said he felt the district was “giving away an asset.”

“It takes six votes for this to pass,” said Kevin O’Donnell, of the Franklin Township Athletic Association, before Monday’s vote. “If we could get 7, 8 and 9 this time, that would be great.”

The final subdivision passed by a 9-0 vote without any further comment.

Carbon County and Franklin Township planning commissions both recommended approval of the subdivision plans, which township supervisors approved on Jan. 15.

The plan includes a utility easement over the lot the district will retain, allowing the township to connect a public sewer line.

In June, the Lehighton board opted to keep the soccer fields directly behind Franklin Elementary School, feeling it would add value for any interested buyers in the building, which closed at the end of the 2017-18 school year.

The school board on Monday approved a list of facility uses which included the Lehighton Area Soccer Club using the fields for soccer games and practice this spring.

Director Wayne Wentz, who wanted to also transfer the soccer fields to the township to ensure they remain available for recreational use, asked what would happen if that parcel was sold.

“The soccer club is aware that if the property is sold, it would be up to the buyer whether or not those fields would be available for use,” Lehighton Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver.

“That’s a shame,” Wentz responded, “to choose money over the kids.”