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School district's proposed K–5 elementary school moves through technical review; planners note extensive county and engineering comments
Summary
Hazleton Area School District's proposed 321,840 sq ft K–5 elementary school (capacity ~1,200 students) was presented for review; Benesch and county engineering issued substantial comment sets and staff said a sewage‑planning exemption has been submitted.
The Hazle Township Planning Board heard a presentation on the Hazleton Area School District proposal for a new K–5 elementary school north of the existing high school. The submission describes a 321,840‑square‑foot facility with capacity for roughly 1,200 students, 88 additional parking spaces and a new private access road connecting to Hazle Township Boulevard.
Township staff recorded multiple technical reviews: Benesch provided 57 comments, Luzerne County engineering filed many technical comments, and the township engineer reported review comments as well. Engineers on the record said sewage‑planning matters were submitted as an exemption and that NPDES application materials remained incomplete with the conservation district.
Joe Calabrese, the township engineer, noted the project is in zoning compliance but that reviewers flagged transportation, stormwater and sanitary‑sewer questions that the applicant must resolve. The acceptance of the application for review does not grant any construction permits; it authorizes staff and outside reviewers to continue technical review and to require revisions as needed.
The board did not take a final vote on the school project; staff scheduled continued review and anticipated additional comments in advance of a future meeting.
