Lehigh Valley Health Network - Cedar Crest will build a new lot to accommodate its staff.

The Salisbury Township Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the 601-space lot south of the LVHN entrance drive along Cedar Crest Boulevard and north of Fish Hatchery Road.

A stone and gravel covered lot is in the approximate four-acre area where the lot is to be built.

Planners voted 6-0, with one planner absent at the Jan. 13 meeting, to approve several variances and the preliminary-final land development for construction of the campus parking facility, storm sewer and associated detention facility at 1200 S. Cedar Crest Boulevard in the R-2 Zoning District.

The township zoning hearing board previously voted to approve variances and the plan for the LVHN parking lot.

David J. Tettemer, Salisbury Township consulting engineer of Keystone Consulting Engineers, read from his Jan. 8 review letter of the LVHN lot.

Cynthia Sopka, Salisbury Township director of planning and zoning, noted a letter from the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission stated the LVHN lot is in compliance.

Representing LVHN were Atty. Timothy J. Siegfried, member attorney, Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A., and James Rothdeutsch, senior manager, The Pidcock Company.

"This lot is designed to meet the proposed new zoning ordinance requirements," Rothdeutsch said.

Sidewalks connect the lot to LVHN buildings. There is also a shuttle bus.

Water from the lot would drain to an existing water basin.

Planner Glenn Miller asked about the possible increase in stormwater runoff from the paving of the lot.

"It appears everything's going to be fine," Tettemer said concerning runoff from the lot.

The lot is expected to be built in phases.

Neither the cost of the project nor its construction timetable were available.