SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Al-Ahad Islamic Center on Thursday presented a plan to develop an education center and athletic fields for "a few hundred students" along Ridgeview Drive.
The sketch plan, reviewed by the township Planning Commission, is a request to further develop properties at 1500, 1504 and 1410 Ridgeview Drive.
The properties are in the R-3 Low Density Residential Zoning District.
“My major concern is traffic."David Wilson, South Whitehall Township planning commission chair
Commission members voiced concerns about the flow of increased traffic near the site, which is bordered by Route 309 to the southwest and Ridgeview Drive and Parkland Drive to the east.
A traffic study was advised by the commission.
“My major concern is traffic,” Planning Commission Chairman David Wilson said. “Students will be picked up and dropped off, and there’ll be school buses.
“I strongly recommend coordinating with the township engineer.”
School for 'a few hundred students'
The plan proposes to develop three lots, totaling about 8 acres, with a 28,235-square-foot education center and supporting facilities, in conjunction with a previously approved nearly 27,000-square-foot mosque.
The project also will include four outdoor pickleball courts, a soccer field and playground to the west end of the property.
The three-story private school will consist of 20 classrooms — 12 for elementary school and eight for secondary students — attorney Erick Schock, counsel for the applicant, told the commissioners.
The school would have "a few hundred students," Schock told the commission.
The proposal will next be reviewed by the township zoning hearing board, and be subject to further reviews by the planning commission and board of commissioners.South Whitehall Township Planning Commission
The planners also expressed concerns about potential issues with access for fire department vehicles around the school building.
Commissioners also suggested the developer construct and connect sidewalks from the school building to Ridgeview Drive.
The proposal will next be reviewed by the township zoning hearing board, and be subject to further reviews by the planning commission and board of commissioners.
A full meeting of the township board of commissioners will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17 in the municipal building.
The zoning hearing board next meets at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18.
New bank project
In other business, removed from the agenda was a request for a sketch plan review of construction of a proposed Chase Bank branch.
The project is part of a development involving the Roma II Revocable Trust.
The application is a proposal to further develop a 1.36-acre tract at 1603 N. Cedar Crest Blvd.
The property owner and trustee is Elizabeth Roma Swallow.
The applicant is Bohler Engineering, PA LLC, of Bethlehem.
