[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6602237,"mediaKeyId","3005140-11c4a88140b2160c3d1209bdeff685f1","parentId",3005140,"title","Executive Education Academy proposes 4,100‑seat stadium on deck; commission approves two‑year sidewalk postponement and seeks event management plan","audioSeconds",5237,"startMs",3856000,"endMs",9093000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3005140-11c4a88140b2160c3d1209bdeff685f1&start=3856&end=9093","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3005140-11c4a88140b2160c3d1209bdeff685f1/thumbnail_3856000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6602237/Allentown-City/Lehigh-County/Pennsylvania/Executive-Education-Academy-proposes-4100seat-stadium-on-deck-commission-approves-twoyear-sidewalk-postponement-and-seeks-event-management-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602237-ac1cc9e3eef93f249b105274def4769d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163640&Signature=DQzQbIxYCmOLgZ0zEB0eaU-pDfvEFO8CxNmWdxBfYcSoyilJfYWJkbe4yYUsvL5EewBRBPFShT8u0vAq6BXauHdKwTk~l3D7vXDw-eTqTVFQ1np42LVnB6BlUBm6GjiVFm5DzZo6Lwrxbwcr7EdKx1LdK46GVh8ZdWLV7A3Yh8dumyCH9KIly0Kb0bU5JYuv582n15oEY5ZDATZ7bckFfl3SP3cTnXPDm1MAFb9rH71eZy58lDwsjBpA9NiAUxtRGKSA2l0gjchsntAYuoHy2zioy5RrmOyyoy-4iJSpb0GTNBnWhyVxglPZ7BIC8rgVDGkQTlhA45Bdcx-OtbowBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Allentown City, PA","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","Executive Education Academy presented plans for a 4,100‑seat athletic stadium to be built on a deck above existing parking at 555 Union Boulevard, prompting detailed staff and commission review of circulation, stormwater, lighting and the relationship with neighboring Coca‑Cola Park.

School and project representatives described the proposal as an above‑ground stadium of about 126,713 square feet with two opposing grandstands, new concession and restroom facilities and parking underneath the deck. The academy’s CEO, Bob Lysik, said the stadium would create recreational and game‑day space for students who currently “play most of their sports on asphalt,” and would also host athletic and school‑related cultural events.

Staff said the property is in the BIWD (Business Innovation Workforce Development) zoning district and that a stadium is permitted only as an accessory use supporting Executive Education Academy’s programs. The project proposes three access points — Dauphin Street (stop sign controlled), North American Parkway and Union Boulevard (signalized) — and staff asked for a traffic‑impact analysis showing the effects if events at the academy and Coca‑Cola Park ever coincided. Commissioners and staff discussed event coordination and recommended the applicants and Coca‑Cola Park formalize event scheduling and parking agreements.

Keystone Consulting’s Scott Pasterski explained the stadium is elevated on structural supports to preserve parking below and that pedestrian corridors and a primary accessible ramp would lead from the ground parking up to a mezzanine entry level attached to the school. He said the plan includes removing some impervious surfaces elsewhere on the campus and on a nearby parcel the academy owns to meet stormwater requirements.

Commissioners and staff focused on four main issues: (1) event management and traffic (staff asked for a special‑event management plan rather than a full traffic study if the parties formalize scheduling), (2) pedestrian access and the D&L (D&L Trail) future alignment, (3) stormwater treatment and impervious‑area offsets, and (4) lighting and landscaping to reduce heat‑island effects. Several commissioners recommended more interior parking islands with shade trees and clearer pedestrian routes to Coca‑Cola Park.

Joe Finley, managing partner of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, told the commission the IronPigs and Executive Education Academy have reached agreement in principle on parking and that an amended, recorded easement will memorialize the operational relationship: “we’re very pro…we're looking forward to spending a lot of good years…with this…a really exciting project,” he said.

On a related procedural matter, the academy requested postponements of sidewalk construction on North Dauphin and North Bradford while the D&L trail alignment and spur into the site are finalized. The commission voted to grant a two‑year postponement on both North Dauphin and North Bradford sidewalks — until April 8, 2027 — and directed staff and the applicant to work out formal easements or agreements and a special‑event management plan that addresses how events will be scheduled and managed so they do not conflict with Coca‑Cola Park events.

Commissioners stressed that the stadium use must remain accessory to the school’s academic and athletic programs; staff noted that standalone stadium uses would not be permitted in the underlying BIWD zoning district and that any uses beyond school‑related activities could require separate approvals.

The project will return to staff and the commission with additional details on pedestrian and vehicular circulation, stormwater designs, lighting plans and a formalized parking/easement agreement with Coca‑Cola Park.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission\t4/8/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Executive Education Academy proposed a 4,100‑seat stadium on an elevated deck above campus parking at 555 Union Boulevard, prompting discussion about traffic, pedestrian access, stormwater and how events will be coordinated with nearby Coca‑Cola Park.","taxTitle","Allentown City, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania","taxId",12607,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6602242,"Planning commission conditions approval for Dual Temp headquarters expansion at South 12th Street",811,3019000,3830000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3005140-11c4a88140b2160c3d1209bdeff685f1&start=3019&end=3830","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3005140-11c4a88140b2160c3d1209bdeff685f1/thumbnail_3019000.jpg","/articles/6602242/Allentown-City/Lehigh-County/Pennsylvania/Planning-commission-conditions-approval-for-Dual-Temp-headquarters-expansion-at-South-12th-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602242-13b2c9e69e0f44765330628ec59f5f30/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163640&Signature=SsQHChUCvtDulkQMl6sPXNRaAh6-CTXEPbUe5cgP7nOpwGepI6WmKV~vCJSrSEot2JCS0QjY0qKMqPyp8W9rFVx6Zb0U5S5xDmqyqvgThVySchPnG7LDENyb2rKJF3ZRr4ww3zueHM~2lGd9STMfqo6~Uj6K-gVyNIoKWde01RuCiKWbL2i2wfqrneBmO7RtT2GPuyE3r3x4RUhixDOOokdZlUV5n8dUq3ZkE9WkDlnou1wcVOO~mB0HG09zQDFjyxJpyhIqk3z8M4hzjIS8Q54SjL2msouhkyQhFGsj4HI3kLFUaAc2K8vjMVoghn8mdYaoPQBORbEIDuZ8B1OG5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Allentown City Planning Commission approved the preliminary/final land‑development plan for Dual Temp’s expansion at 2050 South Twelfth Street, subject to resolution of standard staff and departmental comments.

Planning staff described the proposal as demolition of three existing structures and construction of a three‑story office building (about 16,740 square feet) plus a single‑story storage building (about 12,300 square feet), new interior drives, pedestrian walkways, landscaping, lighting and storm‑water management. Staff advised avoiding long stretches of blank walls on storage buildings and suggested locating accessible parking closer to the office where feasible; staff said it did not object to the elevations.

Kevin Markle of Barry, Isett and Associates, representing the applicant, said Dual Temp had occupied the site for decades and proposed to consolidate storage and modernize operations: “They’re looking to basically expand their current business. They’re outgrowing their current facilities… They’re just looking to upgrade their office facility, allow for some future expansion in the next few years, and consolidate their storage.” He told commissioners the applicant had obtained a zoning hearing‑board variance for disturbance of existing man‑made steep slopes and had received Lehigh Valley Planning Commission concurrence on planning and stormwater review. He said utilities and permits are under review.

Commissioners supported the proposal. One commissioner suggested adding voluntary buffering or evergreen plantings behind a zone where the applicant proposed larger vehicle parking; another suggested a small outdoor seating area for employees. The commission’s motion approved the project conditioned on addressing all comments in the city’s staff and department review letters.

The motion carried on a voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript. Staff will require the applicant to address outstanding zoning, public‑works, shade‑tree and other departmental comments before formal sign‑off and recording of final documents.","The commission approved preliminary/final plan for Dual Temp at 2050 S. 12th St., subject to addressing city department comments; the project consolidates storage and adds a three‑story office and new storage building.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6602247,"Developers return with revised sketch plan for East Side apartments; commissioners press on density, trees and access",1632,193000,1825000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3005140-11c4a88140b2160c3d1209bdeff685f1&start=193&end=1825","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3005140-11c4a88140b2160c3d1209bdeff685f1/thumbnail_193000.jpg","/articles/6602247/Allentown-City/Lehigh-County/Pennsylvania/Developers-return-with-revised-sketch-plan-for-East-Side-apartments-commissioners-press-on-density-trees-and-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602247-f8e0a521b600cadffc63ae54b71af865/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163640&Signature=ifvZ6wWQICpjZLANsKMPz05Umg0tqN1sLJoPsPPwrZ8kOLiftFt1uD1RlIzRmttamtysUllDXTWgPUdGwZHVTZLiZeDYX1HDcifpBflg1MDnB9KWWugyhjk5E1c9k~Ls3IKkTK1vBG0o7Isq9enz32ZRYZXED6CPBVjuBGDViuTc3-oTbNVmOdYo8xZWTsK4d35ljcOr2NWnzdhyg0Fhoc~l9iAsVj0lXP11kGFQgNapnqvpxH~xbS60KnRUwIRWgtBTz1ebOGkz-MQCaK1PUF3A-AKse7QL2G0bCKgjkTrD5wk6dBeRh9LCpYjaANiLs6p2XF8CBdqE2fM8r1p8mA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Developers presented a revised sketch plan for a proposed East Side apartment complex at 750 East Turner Street during the Allentown City Planning Commission meeting, and commissioners and residents pressed the team on density, grading, tree removal and vehicle access.

The submission is a voluntary sketch plan for a site the applicant says is roughly 16.85 acres; the submittal shows seven apartment buildings and associated drives and parking with added sidewalks and bicycle racks. Because the filing is at sketch level, staff emphasized the session was comments‑only and no formal approvals are granted at this stage.

Planning staff described the sketch changes from a prior preliminary plan: “The security gates have been removed,” staff said, and sidewalks were added to provide connectivity to Turner, Graham and Irving streets; bicycle racks were added at every building; the community center was moved to make room for units; Building 6 was shortened to allow a full driveway loop; and an emergency access was converted to a full‑sized driveway. Staff recommended additional measures to enhance walkability — for example, creating one or more interior drives that resemble a traditional tree‑lined street with sidewalks and parallel parking — and noted topographic constraints including steep slopes.

Applicant representative Joe (identified in the record as the applicant’s on‑site design lead) said the team had reworked the plans quickly to respond to feedback. He told commissioners he was balancing what the city wants with what is viable for the rental market and that tenants prefer parking close to building entries: “the tenants all like the concept of almost parking at your door, not park here and then have to walk around the whole building to go up to the second floor.” He said his client shortened Building 1 and added a full loop drive so the development no longer contains dead‑end parking.

Commissioners praised several of the revisions but continued to press on density, site disturbance and tree loss. Commissioner Greg said he was “very happy with the overall proposed changes,” but Commissioner Jeff asked whether the consolidated lot — created in part by vacation of former right‑of‑ways — had enlarged the developable acreage and contributed to the project’s intensity. Commissioner Brown (transcript identifies him as a commissioner) urged the applicant to prepare a restoration plan or tree‑planting program to address large areas of exposed ground and tree clearing that city staff said appeared to have occurred without approvals.

Several neighborhood residents testified during public comment. Miguel Ortiz said traffic is already difficult on nearby streets and raised concerns about emergency‑vehicle access; another resident said an easement and access to a backyard garage had been impacted. Kevin Ketchin of 825 East Hamilton Street asked that the plan not create a public cut‑through between private homes and said he worried about added pedestrian traffic through narrow strips of land.

Staff and the commission recommended that the applicant refine the preliminary plan to improve walkability, cluster parking to the sides or rears of buildings, create purposeful common green spaces, and provide documentation on tree disturbance and stormwater. Because this was a sketch plan submittal, the commission provided comments only and no formal vote on the plan was taken.","A sketch plan for a roughly 16.85‑acre, multi‑building apartment project at 750 East Turner Street drew detailed staff and resident comments about removed gated entry, added sidewalks, tree loss and steep slopes; no formal approval was requested at sketch stage.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6602252,"Planning commission grants 12-month extension for Walnut Square Apartments",124,34000,158000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3005140-11c4a88140b2160c3d1209bdeff685f1&start=34&end=158","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3005140-11c4a88140b2160c3d1209bdeff685f1/thumbnail_34000.jpg","/articles/6602252/Allentown-City/Lehigh-County/Pennsylvania/Planning-commission-grants-12-month-extension-for-Walnut-Square-Apartments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602252-2163cb5cb42d50843f09d1970ef5a77a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163640&Signature=ZQol5zfsHPm5MZLYz1UzrQRGOZg-EFd-EuJEi3Om6SHArIUQgp96VkAPHEKNM3S1jt1CmdnsYbjMjYW~rqYExXWsere3OoKjZWOSNS5MYMDCFJuzFgYjNQ1afzpAgg7ubQONMTbnGzSl4d2mKA4VCiYupqPw7u~KYbacInQzIo1N97CNGgDB3EAULVWCVvfbUxTImCttnmDpyARyr1522UjKzB9tJo~38~qD870PPV71Rl9FoYai8g3mFL1iuvkA6uXXp3KpyzfssuA1KQdzOHgtrcYM1rGxiVb59jvBm1hrt~mUTaWy8tjhvwIzI65nVK7XMzy5bEx-x1jIc4sHAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Allentown City Planning Commission on an uncontested voice vote approved a 12-month extension for Walnut Square Apartments so the developer can complete state approvals required to close on tax credits.

The request covers a three-level building with 38 units identified in the file as Walnut Street Apartments. Planning staff told commissioners they do not object to the extension but noted a prior commission request for a “warmer color palette.”

Jonathan Strauss of Cortex Residential, the applicant, told the commission the project is otherwise complete from the city’s land‑development perspective: “we do have a final land development plan that’s ready for execution and [the] sewer planning module has been completed. We have an O and M agreement that’s fully executed and ready for recording at this point.” Strauss said the team is waiting on a state agency’s approval to proceed to closing for tax credits and summarized, “project’s ready, shovel ready.”

Planning staff speaker Miss Gomez reiterated the design comment: “warmer color palette, so you may wanna ask about that.” Strauss said the developer had softened an exterior white to an off‑white and retained wood soffit colors; he also described planned warm exterior lighting.

Commissioner Kelly moved to grant the 12‑month extension; Commissioner Jeff seconded the motion. The chair called for the ayes and announced the motion carried.

The extension allows the applicant additional time to secure state tax‑credit approvals and record the required operations and maintenance agreement before the city must act again on land‑development approvals.","The Allentown City Planning Commission approved a 12-month extension request for the Walnut Square Apartments project so the developer can await state tax-credit approval; staff raised a minor design comment on exterior color.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Executive Education Academy proposes 4,100‑seat stadium on deck; commission approves two‑year sidewalk postponement and seeks event management plan

Planning commission conditions approval for Dual Temp headquarters expansion at South 12th Street

Developers return with revised sketch plan for East Side apartments; commissioners press on density, trees and access

Planning commission grants 12-month extension for Walnut Square Apartments