The public is expected to get a first look at the Swain Fire Station project at the 7 p.m. May 12 Salisbury Township board of commissioners’ meeting in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

That’s when Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company officials are to present an artist’s rendering of the proposed station.

The commissioners’ meeting agenda is expected to include the Swain project, recommended for approval by commissioners at the April 27 planning commission meeting.

Planners voted 6-0, with one planner absent at the April 27 meeting, to grant three waivers submitted by Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company for the land development plan at 950 S. Ott St. The project proposes to raze the existing firehouse and construct a new firehouse. The property is in the R2 Low Density Residential Zoning District.

Planner Jessica Klocek made the motion, seconded by Planner Jimmy Brown, for the vote on three waivers.

Planners also voted 6-0 to recommend approval of the preliminary-final plan by township commissioners.

Klocek made the motion, seconded by planner Richard Hassick, to bring approval of the plan to a vote.

Representing the proposal was Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company Fire Chief Joshua Wells and Base Engineering, Inc., Director, Engineering Casey Bond.

There were no residents at the planners’ meeting to object to the project. One resident in attendance asked questions concerning it.

One waiver was to combine the preliminary and final plan.

Another waiver pertained to not having to show man-made features on the plan within 100 feet of the project.

A third waiver had to do with no earth-moving being allowed prior to an erosion and sedimentation plan approval by the Lehigh County Conservation District. The conservation district will not have to approve the plan.

Salisbury Township Consulting Engineer David J. Tettemer of Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc., said a fire station plan was before the township board of commissioners in 2015.

“Most of the engineering issues were addressed at that time,” it was said. “There’s no expansion of the impervious surface. The site is pretty well-defined as it is.”

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission will review the project.

“We can’t grant a waiver,” Tettemer said.

Salisbury Township Planning and Zoning Officer Kerry H. Rabold noted the township zoning board approved a special exception and variances at its April 13 hearing.

“Firefighters-only signs will be placed at parking spaces,” Rabold said.

Razing of the existing Swain Station, 950 S. Ott St. and construction of a new facility was granted an appeal as a special exception by a vote of 5-0 at the April 13 Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board.

There is no cost estimate for the Swain project. Construction is expected to begin in March 2023 for the prefabricated structure. Completion is anticipated in October 2023. In the interim, Western will run out of its Eisenhower Station in response to calls.

The new two-story, 7,511-square-feet firehouse on the 0.283-acre site is to have four bays on the building’s front side. The existing fire station has three-bays on the front with one bay on the side.

The new facility will include offices for crew meetings and two bathrooms. The existing structure has one bathroom.