ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The dispute over a parking lot shared by the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and the adjacent Executive Education Academy Charter School's a proposed football stadium is in the hands of Allentown Planning Commission.
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission on Thursday approved the staff review of its Comprehensive Planning Committee on Tuesday about the land development project.
The charter school is proposing to build a 126,000-square-foot, 4,100-seat, multi-sport stadium and a nearly 5,000-square-foot building at 555 Union Blvd., near Coca-Cola Park.
IronPigs co-owner Joseph Finley expressed concerns that the stadium project would reduce the number of parking spaces the IronPigs have for their games at Coca-Cola Park.Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
But at the Comprehensive Planning Committee meeting, IronPigs co-owner Joseph Finley suggested the LVPC pause the approval of the stadium plans.
Finley expressed concerns that the stadium project would reduce the number of parking spaces the IronPigs have for their games at Coca-Cola Park.
“That’s why Bob [Charter Academy Chief Executive Officer Robert Lysek] and the school approached us, to come to an amicable agreement,” Finley told the committee Tuesday.
The IronPigs on March 4 sent the charter school and its attorneys a proposed amendment agreement to their parking right, Finley said Tuesday, but had not received a response.
The IronPigs' authorization to use the parking lot was established in 2006 through an easement agreement with Agere Systems, the former tenant of the charter school, Finley said.
Up to 16,000 cars
The issue will be discussed 12:30 p.m. April 8 in Allentown City Council chambers, when the city Planning Commission reviews the project and final action will be taken, city Planning Director Jennifer Gomez said.
The proposed stadium would be elevated by concrete columns and shear walls — a structural element designed to resist lateral forces that prevent buildings from warping or collapsing.
“If an IronPigs game is sold out, there could be in excess of 10,000 people there. If there’s a (charter school) game at the same time, with overlapping parking there could be 15,000 to 16,000 cars.”Steve Melnick, LVPC Commissioner
A majority of the existing parking would remain below the stadium.
The project would eliminate 26 current parking spaces, reducing the total spaces to 1,260.
The 5,000-square-foot building addition to the primary building would consist of concession and restroom facilities and would connect the stadium to the primary building.
The LVPC on Thursday voted to include in its letter to the City of Allentown concerns about the amount of traffic that would be created should the IronPigs and charter school sports events be held simultaneously.
“If an IronPigs game is sold out, there could be in excess of 10,000 people there,” Commissioner Steve Melnick said. “If there’s a [charter school] game at the same time, with overlapping parking there could be 15,000 to 16,000 cars.”
Added Becky A. Bradley, LVPC executive director: “We can’t get involved in the level of the easement discussion. We can defer that to Allentown. That’s their role.”
