A major expansion of Western Salisbury Fire Company has been unveiled.

As part of the project, Western officials plan to consolidate operations and close and sell the 3425 Eisenhower Avenue facility.

Disclosure of the building expansion plans at 950 S. Ott St. occurred at the Feb. 10 Salisbury Township Planning Commission meeting.

A timetable, cost of the project or an artist's rendering were not immediately available.

"We wanted to make sure we had approval first," Western Salisbury Fire Company Chief Joshua Wells told a reporter for The Press after the meeting.

Funding for the project will be from the sale of the Eisenhower station and a capital campaign.

Planners voted 6-1 to authorize a letter from the township planning commission to the township zoning board, recommending zoners back the fire company's concept for the plan.

Because a sketch plan was presented for the re-subdivision plan, which involves donation of a portion of land to the fire company from The Swain School, planners did not need to vote on it.

In his Feb. 4 review letter, David J. Tettemer, Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc., the township consulting engineering firm, listed 14 items.

"No action is required since this is a sketch plan," Tettemer told planners.

The Emergency Services Station use approval dates to February 1994, with township zoning hearing board approval required for the fire company property.

The fire company's proposal is expected to be on the agenda of the 7 p.m. March 3 township zoning hearing board meeting.

It was noted the building setback requirement is 50 feet, but the plan calls for a building setback of 12 feet. A zoning variance is expected to be required.

However, Cynthia Sopka, Salisbury Township director of planning and zoning, observed, "The variance stays within the land. Because the use is not changing. So there's no need to go back for a [use] variance."

Atty. John W. Ashley, township solicitor, said he concurred with Sopka.

There may be a variance needed for the percentage of impervious surface coverage. Allowed is 50 percent; the plan would exceed 75 percent.

In her review letter, Sopka said the original fire station predates 1978.

"I don't think we [Salisbury Township] even had zoning pretty much then," Sopka said.

The Western Salisbury station has been there since 1972. There are about 25 volunteers.

An underground fuel oil storage tank will be removed. The new facility is to be heated by natural gas.

One resident, Roger Burke, expressed concern about the fire company expansion. He asked if there would be a social hall.

"The addition is going to be for classrooms, meeting rooms and bathrooms," Wells said.

"We're going to consolidate it into one station," Wells said. "This will not be a social hall."

Most of the existing building will be torn down, with the exception of the equipment bays.

The added land will result in the building built with a square footprint.

The new building will meet Americans With Disabilities Act requirements.

Parking spaces, to be added on the portion of land obtained from Swain, will increase from six to 15 for fire company volunteers responding to calls.

Robert Bauer, an engineer with Base Engineering, presented the sketch plan.

Tettemer cautioned planners on the wording of the planners' recommendation letter to zoners.

"I'd be careful how you word this because it's a sketch plan. You haven't reviewed the plan. Conceptually, it sounds like a good idea," Tettemer said.

Stephen J. McKitish, Jr., vice chair, made the motion for Sopka and Ashley to draft the letter of recommendation for "the need for zoning relief" for the fire company project. Richard Hassick seconded the motion.

Planners approved the motion 6-1, with Dr. William R. Licht casting the "no" vote.

Western Salisbury Fire Department covers the area including Lehigh Valley Hospital Center - Cedar Crest; Interstate 78 from the Summit Lawn exit to Route 309 North and the Norfolk Southern east-west railroad line.

Equipment includes a 2012 Ford Expedition UVT, 2008 Sparta, 2005 American LaFrance 110-ft. Ladder Truck, 1998 American LaFrance Pumper, 1995 Freightliner Spill Control, 1988 GMC Brush Truck and a restored 1965 American LaFrance Pioneer.