SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — The Parkland School District is one step closer to getting a new operations center.
South Whitehall Planning Commission recommended preliminary/final approval to plans for the building at its meeting Tuesday.
- Plans for the proposed Parkland Operations Center were recommended for preliminary/final approval by the South Whitehall Township Planning Commission
- The new building will house maintenance and custodial services, the technology department, the food services division and the safety and security division
- In other news, the commission reviewed plans for Ridge Farm Phase 1B and for a new Walgreens distribution center
The new building will be at 2619 Stadium Drive, across from Orefield Middle School. It will house maintenance and custodial services, the technology department, the food services division and the safety and security division.
“Everybody's kind of spread out. Now, we'll all be together under one roof, which will really be helpful."Dave Keppel, director of school services
Director of School Services Dave Keppel said district operations are based mainly in the Troxell building at 1210 Springhouse Road, but some departments operate in other buildings.
“Everybody's kind of spread out," Keppel said. "Now we'll all be together under one roof, which will really be helpful. So we're excited to get this project started."
Keppel said the district has planned to build a new operations center since before he first started his position. The project was delayed because the district had other issues to address first.
Keppel said now is the time to move forward.
“We have a little window of opportunity that if we're going to do it, now is the time to do it,” Keppel said. “And that's why we took it to the board, and the board agreed.”
The project likely will be completed in 2024.
Other business
The planning commission also reviewed comments for the township’s comprehensive plan draft after the township closed public comment Monday.
The township received a total of 30 public comments on the plan, which township staff addressed through edits to the draft.
The commission recommended the adoption of the plan to the township Board of Commissioners, which soon will hold a public hearing for the adoption of the plan.
Also Thursday, the planning commission reviewed a plan to turn a section of a flex warehouse into a Walgreens distribution center. The commission took the plan under advisement and make no recommendations.
The final plan for Ridge Farm Phase 1B also came before the commission for review. The commission took the plan under advisement, as well.
