The date for the public Act 34 hearing on Northampton Area School District’s proposed $73.4 million new elementary school and education center, Route 329 and Seemsville Road, East Allen Township, was approved during the Oct. 10 meeting.

The 7-1 vote by school directors approves, as recommended by the administration, the notice of a public hearing and authorizes the district to advertise the Act 34 hearing, to be held 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Northampton Area Middle School cafeteria, 1617 Laubach Ave., Northampton.

The hearing will be held in the middle school cafeteria rather than the Northampton Area High School auditorium, where school board and other district meetings have been held in recent years, to accommodate rehearsal for the NAHS Theatre Company’s fall play, “Pride and Prejudice,” set for 7 p.m. Nov. 11 and 12 in the NAHS auditorium.

NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik said the 50-page Act 34 booklet for the hearing is to be posted on the district website, nasdschools.org, following the school board meeting.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education website, “Act 34 of 1973 applies to all new buildings and buildings with substantial additions.

“Act 34 is applicable when a project becomes substantial enough in scope to require public meetings and further cost calculations. Maximum building construction costs, school building capacity and aggregate building expenditures are all items examined via this process,” according to the Department of Environmental Protection website.

Commonwealth law requires an Act 34 hearing must be advertised 30 days before the date of the hearing.

The resolution, as approved by the NASD board, is to authorize a maximum project cost of $73,406,193 - including $3,043,193 in financing costs - and a maximum building construction cost of $44,707,536 in connection with the project.

The school project construction team is D’Huy Engineering Inc., KCBA Architects and Terraform Engineering.

“We are preparing the land development plan for discussions with the township,” Chris Haller, D’Huy Engineering senior project engineer, told school directors, district officials and others in attendance at the board meeting.

“The plan will be presented in detail at the Act 34 hearing,” said Jay Clough, KCBA Architects corporate management principal.

The proposed elementary school is to be 113,238 square feet, and the administrative building is to be 36,172 square feet.

The school district project is under review by municipal boards.

Allen Township Board of Supervisors discussed the township sewer line capacity for the proposed elementary school at its Sept. 13 meeting.

Allen Township voted to approve a motion that the township has the sewer capacity to provide 13 equivalent dwelling units (EDUs) for the school. Allen Township officials are to determine sewer line responsibilities in discussions expected to take place at upcoming meetings with East Allen Township and Northampton Borough officials.

Allen Township supervisors were expected to meet 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Allen Township Fire Company No. 1, 3530 Howertown Road.

East Allen Township Planning Commission discussed the Route 329 school preliminary land development plan at its Oct. 6 meeting.

According to the East Allen planners’ agenda, the plan proposes to construct a new 700-student elementary school, district administration office and associated parking areas, athletic fields and amenities. The site is proposed to be served by public water and public sewer.

East Allen Township planners are set to meet 7 p.m. Nov. 3 in the township municipal building, 5344 Nor-Bath Blvd. East Allen Township supervisors will meet 7 p.m. Nov. 9 in the municipal building.

In the Oct. 10 NASD board 7-1 decision to approve the advertising and scheduling of the Act 34 hearing, school Director Doug Vaughn cast the “no” vote. School Director Kim Bretzik was absent.

During the Oct. 10 meeting public comment segment, several residents spoke against the proposed Route 329 school project.

“I’m speaking out against backing a school amid the mega-warehouses,” Maggie Kemp, a former NASD school director, said. “I don’t know why you’re making a decision without a traffic study. The traffic is just only located across from Seemsville Road. It’s not a good move.

“Think of the safety and welfare of the children,” Kemp added.

The board of education next meets 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the NAHS auditorium, 1619 Laubach Ave., Northampton.