Allentown planning commission approves Northridge K–8 school land development with conditions after debate over Hanover intersection and pedestrian safety

The Allentown City Planning Commission on Feb. 10 approved conditional final plan approval for the Northridge K–8 school land development and an associated subdivision, subject to a set of staff conditions and additional items agreed at the meeting. The commission voted by voice to approve the motions after extended review of traffic, pedestrian safety and future multimodal connections; the motion was made by Commissioner Craig and seconded by Commissioner Jeff.

The project would construct a new K–8 school, a signalized entrance on Hanover Avenue, a Northridge Drive connector and related infrastructure. The applicant said the work represents the first phase of a larger site redevelopment that the applicant estimated could require about $50 million in infrastructure improvements for the overall former hospital site. The applicant told the commission the school district aims to close on the property by the end of the year and, if approvals hold, to start construction this summer with the goal of opening for the 2027 school year.

Commissioners and staff focused most of the discussion on the proposed Hanover–Northridge intersection, pedestrian crossing lengths, sidewalks and how future bike connections would be protected. The applicant described several design revisions since December: shortening the Hanover crossing from about 106 feet to approximately 86 feet (by revising turning geometry and designing to a WB‑50 truck template instead of a WB‑67), reducing two left‑turn lane storage lengths from about 150 feet to 75 feet, adding a mid‑block crosswalk…