Planners give conditional approval to Sonia Sotomayor modular classrooms after traffic and park concerns

The Allentown Planning Commission voted to grant conditional preliminary/final approval for a 9,856‑square‑foot, single‑story modular classroom building for the Sonia Sotomayor Dual Language Immersion Academy, subject to staff comments and a directed on‑street parking, queuing and signage analysis to manage student drop‑off and pick‑up.

Melissa, the commission’s planning staff presenter, told commissioners the revised modular plan reduces the footprint so the existing concession stand can remain and that staff recommends revising the plans to preserve the concession stand, add a southeastern sidewalk connection and incorporate energy‑saving strategies and native landscaping.

Representing the school district, attorney Lawrence Chesney said the district submitted revised materials and had its engineers on hand to address comments; engineer Bob Korp told the commission the modular will replace a two‑classroom unit and add capacity for the district as it prepares for longer‑term redevelopment. Korp also said, "The net addition of impervious is less than 7,400 square feet and therefore qualifies for a stormwater exemption." He added the district intends to buy, not lease, the modular and hopes for an August 2026 occupancy.

Chief operations officer Robert Whartonbe said the current program draws students districtwide and that the district transports many students; "There’s actually 40% of our students getting bused to that location currently," he said, describing the school as a districtwide dual‑language program rather than a strictly neighborhood school.

Public commenters split between support for the program and neighborhood concerns. Linda, reading a letter from Casa Guadalupe, urged approval and called the dual language program "a model that is strengthening family engagement and elevating Allentown as a leader in dual language education." Residents from Midway Manor, including Richard Wilburn and others, expressed worry that future site redevelopment could remove community green space and a snack/concession shed used for neighborhood events. Wilburn said the neighborhood was not consulted about longer‑range redevelopment, and asked the commission to note that many neighbors use the park and concession facilities for youth sports and community events.

Commissioners pressed district staff and the applicant on drop‑off management, parking and sewer planning. Staff and the applicant agreed to study queue lengths, striping and signage to reduce double‑parking and blocking in the surrounding streets; the commission incorporated that study into conditions for approval. After discussion, commissioners approved the applicant’s waiver requests to preserve existing trees and sidewalks and then voted to grant conditional approval of the modular project, with the requirement that final plans address all items in the city comment letter and include the on‑street parking/queuing/signage analysis.

The commission’s action preserves the immediate plan for additional classroom space while requiring the district and applicant to document how student traffic and neighborhood impacts will be managed before final recording and building permit approvals.