ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Executive Education Academy Charter School is proposing a new athletic stadium, and when it comes to parking, the neighboring Lehigh Valley IronPigs hope the school will play ball.
The issue was raised during a Comprehensive Planning Committee meeting of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission on Tuesday.
Joseph Finley, co-owner and managing partner of the IronPigs, suggested the LVPC “delay, postpone or adjourn” approval of the school’s plan for a 126,000-square-feet, 4,100-seat, multi-sport stadium and a nearly 5,000-square-feet building at 555 Union Boulevard.
“My overall point is … what is being proposed will not be permitted unless the IronPigs consent to it.”Joseph Finley, co-owner, Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The proposed stadium project would redevelop excess existing parking areas.
Finley said he's concerned about how the reduction in parking spaces would affect patrons at the IronPigs’ games at Coca-Cola Park.
“We have a genuine real concern about the proposal,” Finley told the committee. “The IronPigs have the ability to use that parking in the lower level.
"That’s why Bob [Charter Academy Chief Executive Officer Robert Lysek] and the school approached us, to come to an amicable agreement.”
The IronPigs on March 4 sent the charter school and its attorneys a proposed amendment agreement to their parking right, Finley said, but have not received a response.
“We ask for a delay, postponement or adjournment until we can get our arms around it legally and logistically,” Finley said. “A lot of the parking lot will be reduced.
“My overall point is … what is being proposed will not be permitted unless the IronPigs consent to it.”
'Don't think it should be rushed'
Committee Chairman Steve Repasch said the stadium project is only being reviewed in light of the LVPC plan.
“Those issues Mr. Finley raised can be dealt with in another venue,” Repasch said.
That venue will be in Allentown City Council chambers at 12:15 p.m. April 8, when the city Planning Commission reviews the project and final action will be taken, city Planning Director Jennifer Gomez said.
“We’re looking forward to working with the school to resolve the issues."Charter Academy Chief Executive Officer Robert Lysek
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.
A majority of the existing parking would remain below the stadium.
“The only parking spaces that would be eliminated are 26 where the columns are,” LVPC Regional Planner Joseph Dotta said.
The eliminated parking spaces would reduce the number of available 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.
“We’re looking forward to working with the school to resolve the issues,” Finley said. “I don’t think it should be rushed because it’s something we’ll all have to live with.”
Rezoning application in Bethlehem
Also Tuesday, the committee approved a staff review of a proposal to amend the City of Bethlehem’s zoning map to allow for a parcel to be rezoned from a Mixed-Use Commercial Zoning District to a Shopping Center Zoning District at 8th Avenue and Martin Court.
The application by a private petitioner calls for rezoning an undeveloped four-acre portion of an 11-acre parcel adjacent to a shopping center to the south.
A small portion of the adjacent parcel also is proposed to be rezoned from High Density Residential to Shopping Center district.
The charter school project and the Bethlehem rezoning application will be further discussed at the LVPC full meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday.
