Lowhill Township Zoners have OK'd Gregory and Rene Snyder's request to use their 6,000-square-foot, former daycare building to house Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21's special education program for autistic children.

Seeking approval from zoners for a special exception, Gregory Snyder, at the zoners' July 15 hearing, described the former Creative Kids Child Development building at 2881 Tycolia Court as a one-story structure with a one-acre parcel of land.

The site includes 27 standard parking spaces and an area for dropping off and picking up students.

In operation since 1993, the daycare center recently consolidated with Creative Kids School Age Center along Kernsville Road, leaving the Tycolia Court property vacant.

Assistant Director of Special Programs and Services for CLIU 21 Tee Decker said she was negotiating with the Snyders to lease the building for an enhanced autism education program.

The original request was for two classrooms with the capacity to have six students and up to six professional staff members per room.

There was the possibility of the program expanding to have a third classroom.

Decker and Supervisor of Operations Duane Elsasser summarized their plans for use of the classrooms and said the education program is intended for lower functioning students within the autism spectrum, some of which require a 1-1 student to teacher ratio.

The students, from ages 12 to 21, have little or no language skills and multiple impairments.

Residents of Tycolia Court and Claussville Road voiced their concerns over bus traffic on the cul-de-sac at the end of Tycolia Court.

Solicitor Emil Kantra told the Snyders zoners must consider potential problematic traffic caused by transport vans and buses.

"I don't want our circle to turn into a bus waiting area," said Scott Kleinschuster, a resident of Tycolia Court.

Decker assured residents no full-size buses would be used to transport students to or from the center.

She also said transport vans and small buses will be using Tycolia Court in the morning from approximately 7:30-8:00 a.m. and in the afternoon from 3:00-3:45 p.m.

A regular session would correspond with Northwestern Lehigh School District's schedule. A summer session would run from mid-July to mid-August for a 4-week program consisting of half-days Monday through Thursday.

Approximately 50 percent of students attending would be transported by CLIU 21 vehicles.

Transportation for the other 50 percent would be provided by school districts.

Decker said no parents are expected to drive students to the facility.

The potential for the program to include more classrooms raised residents' eyebrows and hands with questions.

Sandy Billig, of Claussville Road, said she is concerned about the possibility of expansion.

With 28 parking spaces available, she said cars for staff could spill out onto the court.

Billig also said she is concerned buses would not be able to turn around in the cul-de-sac and potentially damage property in the process.

"We don't want that either," Gregory Snyder said in response to concerns.

Decker said drivers for the intermediate unit would stagger the buses to avoid any stacking.

Zoning Hearing Board Chairman Karl Reed said to avoid any unmanageable expansion, the number of classrooms and students must be capped to qualify for a special exception.

Although the Snyders said they were trying to "find flexibility" in their request for future use of the space, they agreed to limiting CLIU's use of the building to three classrooms, with a maximum capacity of 18 students and 18 staff members.

Reed also told the Snyders any changes or additional uses for the building must be reviewed by the board.

Some residents said they are worried the facility would attract violence similar to what has required state police to respond to Lehigh Learning and Achievement School, at 2936 Corporate Court, Orefield.

Reed made a motion to approve the special exception, permitted the facility be used for autistic spectrum students only and a maximum of three classrooms, totaling six students and up to six staff members each.