Planning Commission advances AEDC's 73,500‑sq‑ft American Parkway redevelopment with conditions

The City of Allentown Planning Commission voted to advance the Allentown Economic Development Corporation’s plan for a 73,500‑square‑foot manufacturing building at 928 American Parkway, approving staff‑recommended conditions and asking the applicant to address floodplain, environmental and design items before final approvals.

Planning staff described the project as a speculative manufacturing building to be split into three potential 24,500‑square‑foot units, with 82 parking spaces shown, 20 future parking spaces, 11 loading docks and six truck parking spaces on the plan. Staff recommended removing excess impervious cover, providing elevations, adding bike parking and indoor long‑term storage, adding landscape buffers, completing steep‑slope and floodplain analyses where applicable, and coordinating waterfront buffer and upland connection requirements with SALDO and the Lehigh Riverfront master plan.

Scott Unger, executive director of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation, said AEDC intends to pursue a Conditional Letter of Map Revision with FEMA and, if successful, to fill the site four feet and remove the property from the 100‑year floodplain. "Our intent would be to actually fill the site and remove it entirely from the hundred year flood plain," Unger said. He also said a previous EPA targeted brownfields assessment cost "close to a quarter of $1,000,000" and found contaminants (metals and hydrocarbons) above residential standards but generally below nonresidential standards, with a few isolated lead locations; additional sampling will be done with DEP and contamination will be managed under engineered fill as needed.

Commissioners pressed for clarity on truck access, circulation, and the project’s interface with Riverside Drive and the riverfront trail. Staff noted the project may need a transportation impact study, must provide waterfront buffer and upland connections per code, and should coordinate curb cuts with PennDOT and public works. Commissioners also asked that sidewalk and accessible pedestrian connections between the roadway and building be required rather than advisory; staff confirmed code provisions and agreed to include those elements where appropriate.

The commission moved to ratify staff’s summary of conditions for the project; the motion passed by voice vote. Staff and the applicant expect further engineering, floodplain, environmental and stormwater analyses as the project proceeds.