Franklin grants conditional plan approval for Blue Mountain Machine’s building addition

Plans for a Franklin Township business to erect a nearly 14,000-square-foot light manufacturing building addition continue to move forward.

Supervisors unanimously agreed on Tuesday to grant conditional approval to the JDY Properties LLC/Blue Mountain Machine’s subdivision and land development plan on its property.

However, as part of its approval, the board said several conditions must be met before final approval is granted:

They must provide a will-serve letter from the Lehighton Water Authority; provide sewage planning exemption letter from the Department of Environmental Protection; completion/execution of developer’s agreement, including financial authority; and completion/execution of access easement agreement.

In February, supervisors approved the following waiver/modification requests from Blue Mountain Machine JDY Properties LLC subdivision and land development plans:

• The initial plan filed with the Carbon County Planning Commission after the sketch plan is to be considered the preliminary plan, as they are requesting to combine the preliminary and final plan submission. The plans include both a two-lot subdivision and land development. Lot No. 1 will only be developed, and no stormwater improvements are required since the development is on existing impervious area.

• All access drives and parking and loading areas for commercial and industrial land developments are to be constructed of a minimum of 7 inches of 2A subbase material, 6 inches of crushed aggregate base course, and 1½ inches of binder course, and 1 inch of wearing course. They are requesting to provide the required paving specifications in the parking area only. The remaining area would contain a stable stone subbase only.

• The developer is to improve Fairview Street through the project site to meet minor street classification. They are requesting from upgrading Fairview Street. The section of Fairview Street that runs through the project site is a 22- to 23-foot-wide concrete and paved road. The township ordinance requires a 20-foot cartway with 3-foot shoulders.

• Additional street right of way is to be dedicated to the township for State Road to meet minimum 25-feet from the street center lines for the requirement of a minor street. They are requesting for a portion of the property on Lot 1 from the additional street right of way dedication. The site is hindered by an existing utility line traversing the property, and proposed development will be on an existing developed area.

• Sheet size is to either be 18 by 22 inches or 36 by 44 inches. They are requesting to utilize plan sizes of 24 by 36 inches due to recording requirements at the county.

Blue Mountain Machine Inc. is located at 725 State Road, Lehighton.

Established in 1974, the business provides CNC and general machining, drilling, boring, laser cutting, honing, lathe and mill work.