An employee parking lot has been given the go-ahead for a major upgrade at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest, Salisbury Township.

The existing parking lot, which is south of the LVH entrance and north of Fish Hatchery Road along Cedar Crest Boulevard, will be paved and landscaping improvements will be made.

The lot is to accommodate 601 vehicles. A timetable for construction and cost of the project was not immediately available at the Feb. 12 meeting of the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners. The lot is expected to be built in phases.

The commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 to approve the combined preliminary-final land development plan for the lot, acting on the recommendation of the township planning commission.

Commissioner Robert Martucci Jr. made the motion to bring the plan up for a vote. It was seconded by Commissioner Vice President Debra Brinton.

Township 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 Blvd. in the R-2 Zoning District.

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

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

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

"This lot is designed to meet the proposed new zoning ordinance requirements," James Rothdeutsch, senior manager, The Pidcock Company said. Rothdeutsch, represented LVH before the commissioners.

Commissioner Joanne Ackerman asked about the detention pond system.

Rothdeutsch explained the rate of runoff must be controlled through infiltration. Water is pumped from the detention pond and sprayed in a 50-70-foot area on a two-acre field.

"Water must be pumped out within seven days," Rothdeutsch said.

A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, required by the Environmental Protection Agency, is still needed to be obtained for the project.