Commission approves Allentown School District addition at 265 Lehigh St.; city to resolve driveway alignment with signal plan

The Allentown City Planning Commission approved a preliminary/final plan for an addition to Building 21 at 265 Lehigh Street, submitted by the Allentown School District. The addition will be connected to the existing school building near Union and Lehigh Streets and will be used for district functions including welcome/intake and family engagement; the district said the building will not house full‑time students.

Jennifer Gomez, planning staff, noted the parcel is zoned B2 and staff supports the proposed building design pending resolution of several site‑specific items. City staff asked the district to resolve driveway alignment issues where the proposed driveway does not yet align with a signalized intersection planned for Sixth and Union streets; the alignment has potential pedestrian‑safety impacts and will need coordination with traffic engineering. Staff also asked whether the north parking lot is necessary given underutilized parking elsewhere on campus; the district said the north lot provides convenient visitor access for intake and training uses and that adjustments may follow the signal plan.

The district team said they would provide pedestrian counts for the block between Fifth and Sixth streets and will coordinate further with city staff and engineering. The district also committed to adding required street trees and to resolving driveway alignments as the city signal plan is finalized. Planning commissioners approved the application on a voice vote, conditioned on the district addressing staff and engineering comments.

What’s next: The district will work with city engineering on driveway alignment and signal coordination, supply required pedestrian counts and finalize landscaping and stormwater details per staff comments before permit issuance.