A plan regarding a two-building addition at the Palmerton Area High School complex is moving ahead.

During December’s Carbon County Planning Commission, the members recommended conditional approval for the proposed addition.

Ivan O. Meixell Jr., county planner, said prior to going over his review of the preliminary plans that Palmerton Borough sent a letter stating that after conferring with the zoning officer, they were deferring the review to the Lower Towamensing Township Planning Commission and board of supervisors since the location of the high school is within Lower Towamensing Township boundaries.

“We have no comments so I reviewed this plan with Lower Towamensing (ordinances),” Meixell said.

According to the plans, Palmerton Area School District would like to construct two building additions at the high school at 3525 Fireline Road; as well as additional parking areas and other facilities needed.

The east side addition on the high school would be a 10,600-square-foot, two-story structure that would include high school administration offices on the first floor and educational space on the second floor.

The west side addition would be a one-story, 10,800-square-foot building for school district administration office and support spaces.

The plans also call for renovating the former high school administration offices near the center of the building into three additional classrooms and one office for high school use.

Meixell outlined his findings, noting that some work on the plans need to be done to meet ordinance requirements, but overall, did not have any significant issues.

The school will need some zoning variances to maintain conformity with the previous construction.

Meixell then said that he found only “minor areas of non-compliance” with land development and zoning ordinances for Lower Towamensing Township and recommended conditional plan approval.

He noted that the land development final plan approval must have approvals and permits from the county and state agencies before the township fully approves it.

The commission’s review now goes to Lower Towamensing for further discussion and action.