- Parkland School District has acquired the property at 3599 Broadway, next to Cetronia Elementary School
- The former landowner previously planned to put a drug and alcohol recovery house there
- In other news, Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley urged the school board to take action following his recent report on the county’s child welfare system
SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — The land next to Cetronia Elementary School that was the location of a proposed drug and alcohol recovery house has changed hands.
Parkland School Board on Tuesday approved buying the property at 3599 Broadway at a cost of $735,000.
District Superintendent Mark Madson said there are no current plans for the site.
Late last year, land owner Eric Moyer proposed a plan for a recovery house on the property, which sparked a multi-month zoning hearing process to determine if the facility would be allowed on the site.
The township Zoning Hearing Board ultimately denied the application in April.
Recovery houses are privately owned homes for people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction — typically for people exiting drug rehabilitation programs. The facilities typically have a sobriety requirement.
“That property has been a problem for a very long time. And Parkland has just stepped up and solved that problem. So we really, really appreciate that.”Cetronia Elementary parent Chris Pirrotta
The location used to be Trexler Park Manor, an assisted-living facility that closed in 2014. The property is currently vacant.
Cetronia Elementary parent Chris Pirrotta, who is running for a seat on the school board, thanked the board for approving the purchase at the meeting.
“The approval tonight means a lot to the community as a whole, especially the community of Cetronia,” Pirrotta said.
“That property has been a problem for a very long time. And Parkland has just stepped up and solved that problem. So we really, really appreciate that.”
A long debate
The zoning hearing board held five hearings over four months. The first hearing was held on Dec. 1 of last year.
The lawyer for Moyer Construction argued that a recovery house is “sufficiently similar in character and impact” to an assisted living facility, which is a permitted use at the site.
Lawyers representing South Whitehall Township and Parkland School District disputed that claim. They argued that regulations for assisted living facilities are more extensive and the township zoning laws prohibit less regulated facilities at the proposed site.
Many residents expressed concern on social media and at the hearings about the proposed facility’s proximity to Cetronia Elementary, saying it would pose a potential danger to the students.
Others spoke in favor of the proposed recovery house at the hearings, saying the facilities are needed in the area.
Other news
Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley spoke at Tuesday’s school board meeting, urging the board to take action following his recent report criticizing the county’s child welfare system, particularly its handling of physical and medical child abuse.
Pinsley told school board directors there are “major issues” within the system and asked them to advocate for an independent investigation.
“I am not asking for less child abuse reporting," Pinsley said. "I am asking you to reach out publicly to the county and ask for answers.”
In response, Madson said the issue is “certainly worth a conversation” and that educators and staff in Parkland “carefully examine” whether to make a report of child abuse.
The board also recognized several groups of teachers for recent accomplishments.
The district’s World Language program won a 2023 Golden Globe award from the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association. The association gives the award to all applicants that meet its standards.
For the 10th consecutive year, the district’s music department received the National Association of Music Merchants’ Best Communities for Music Education award.
Also, Orefield Middle School Wrestling Coach Carlos Montes was recognized for being chosen 2023 Junior High Coach of the Year by the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association.
