A proposed relocation for a Lehighton car dealership has received final planning approval.

On a 4-0 vote, with one abstention, borough council on Monday granted the status to the Lehighton Ford relocation at the recommendation of the planning commission.

However, council’s approval is contingent upon zoning hearing board approval for variances, and conditioned upon the borough engineer’s Dec. 8 review letter.

Councilman Steve Hawk abstained from the vote. Councilmen Grant Hunsicker and Joe Flickinger were absent.

Lehighton Ford’s relocation plan on Route 443 calls for constructing a 22,170-square-foot service and showroom for relocation of the dealership just up the road from the current dealership site.

Lehighton Ford has been in the process of upgrading or relocating for several years.

The company had applied for its current site to become a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance zone to allow for the dealership to build a new building on its site, with only Lehighton Borough approving the request.

In order to obtain LERTA status, the school district, county and municipality must vote, with two of the three entities approving it.

In October 2024, Adam Brobst, general manager for Lehighton Ford, confirmed that the company was moving ahead with purchasing property up the road to relocate the business.

In March, borough council approved an extension letter for Lehighton Ford’s relocation at the recommendation of the planning commission.

That came after borough council in December granted a 60-day extension for the project.