Members of the Carbon County Planning Commission heard all about plans for Carbon County's newest tourist attraction.

Barbara Green, owner of Blue Mountain Ski Area unveiled land development plans for a themed water park on property adjacent to the ski area in Lower Towamensing Township during a recent meeting of the county plannersGreen said Summit Splash will be an outdoor water splash park that will be good for the county. She said the rides will be themed after historic areas of Carbon County, such as the Lehigh River, mining, railroads and the rich canal history, which will inspire visitors to see the real things in the county when they make a return visit.Green said the project will be near the top of the mountain to take advantage of the view and will be built below the treetops so not to obstruct the view from the Appalachian Trail."The park will blend into the scenery," she noted. She said the rides will sport subdued colors to blend in with nature.She said there will be a wave pool.Green said the park will be built in phases, with the first phase the water park and the second phase will include hotels/time shares and more rides, if the water park proves successful.The proposed land development for the water park was granted approval. The water park will be located on approximately 20 acres of the 58 acre parcel.Also reviewed were the land development plans for the Packerton Business Park in Mahoning Township and Lehighton. Based on the review of Ivan O. Meixell Jr., land planner, there are no areas of major non-compliance with the Mahoning Township or Lehighton Borough Land Development Ordinances."Ongoing plan reviews by the township and borough have provided engineering and environmental comments and concerns which are being addressed," noted Meixell.In addition, various Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation permit applications are in the review stages and must be resolved before permit issuance. The plan was granted conditional plan approval.Planners also reviewed a sketch plan of a major subdivision in Summit Hill. Daniel Ponsavage, architect, appeared before the board to present information about Bloomingdale Village to be located at the intersection of West White Bear Drive and Laurel Drive on 11 acres. The plan would provide eight residential lots in the area near Mauch Chunk Lake. While no formal recommendation was required, Meixell noted that developers will need county, state and federal permits for the proposed project. Meixell also strongly recommended that the developers, Wayne Gryzik, owner; and Albert Marsella, developer, retain qualified professional environmental, surveying and engineering assistance in the development of this tract.Meixell also pointed out to Ponsavage that the proposed subdivision will use on-lot sewage systems for each proposed lot. In addition to two storm water basins with proposed discharge into White Bear Creek, which is the main feeder stream for Mauch Chunk Lake."A sewage system malfunction could have a major impact on the aquatic habitat of the lake and should be addressed with DEP before preliminary/final plan submission," said Meixell.Ponsavage noted that there are some wetlands on the property. He also noted that the plans include flag lots that will allow the lots to sell at a lower price due to not having to cost in paved roads."The owners will be responsible for their driveway's maintenance," said Ponsavage. "If we have to put in roads that would put the price of each lot up at least $25,000."Subdivision plans were also reviewed for a 13-acre parcel in East Side Borough. Laurie Loucks, developer, wants to divide the parcel on River Road into three lots. Conditional plan approval was granted to the plans because the submission was incomplete because of non-compliance with the East Side Borough Land Development Ordinance.Two lot line revisions were also reviewed, David A. Hawk of Nesquehoning was granted approval to combine two lots in the New Columbus area into one lot of .89 acres; and Jacob and Diane Moyer of Jim Thorpe received conditional plan rejection to their plan to combine two lots into one .91 acre lot in the Leisureland subdivision at the intersection of Deer Foot Lane and Glenview Drive because the plans were incomplete.