BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. — A new Freedom High School athletics fieldhouse could be under construction as soon as this summer, developers Monday told Bethlehem Township Planning Commission.
Outside of a few minor comments related to landscaping and additional information regarding the structure’s floor area ratio, the commission readily approved the project.
The building will include storage space and a press box.Terraform Engineering’s Peter DeGroot
The building is set to be constructed on the turf field between East Hills Middle School and Freedom High School, opposite the bleachers — which were previously approved under a separate application — and close to the solar panels.
Terraform Engineering’s Peter DeGroot said the building will include storage space and a press box.
“There were just drafting comments, a couple notes we need to add to the plan," DeGroot said. "So a very small project, small comments."
The project is expected to be on the township Board of Commissioners' May 19 agenda.
If all goes well, construction could be underway as soon as this summer, DeGroot said.
Bethlehem Area School District approved the fieldhouse project last May, saying it was “not a typical summer capital project,” as it required new construction.
“As such, this project must go through the municipal site planning, zoning and land development approval processes at Bethlehem Township as well as a daily construction observation monitor," the district’s BoardDocs site reads.
By January, the school board approved a proposal from CHA Consulting Inc., for design and construction observation services required for the project, at a price not to exceed $98,500.
The total project budget has been capped at $550,000.
