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Business & Tech

Planning Commission Grants Initial Approval for Bus Terminal

It won't be built until next year, but the Easton Intermodal Transit Center appears to be on the fast track to becoming a reality.

 The Easton Planning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday night to grant initial final approval for the on Third Street.

The approval is contingent upon the project getting a variance and special exception from the city's zoning hearing board, because the new structure will lie in both the 100- and 500-year flood plains.

However, the building will be “water-tight and flood-proofed” as certified by an outside engineer, said Easton Planning Director Becky Bradley.

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The building is also planned so vehicles can be removed in the event of a flood—the exit will be on higher ground on Bank Street. The street, a one-way, will likely have its direction reversed to accommodate the plan.

As she was representing the city as the applicant to the commission, Bradley recused herself from the vote.

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LANTA officials confirmed to commissioners that engineers have confirmed the ground is suitable for the project and no sinkholes were found.

The garage will feature 376 parking spaces and room for up to 8 buses at the terminal. The 8-car easement at KNBT bank and shared parking agreements with the Social Security Administration building will be maintained according to legal requirements, Bradley confirmed, adding that the city is officially the legal owner of both properties, having bought both outright.

Both the former Perkin's restaurant and the former Marquis Theatre sites received certificates of appropriateness from the city's Historic District Commission last week for their demolition this spring.

The sidewalk in front of the site is to be unblocked after demolition is complete and will stay accessible until construction begins in 2012, Bradley said. Building footprints will likely be landscaped and existing pavement will remain for now.

The demolition phase is expected to take 1 to 2 weeks, she said. She confirmed the area will not be fenced in, but instead the lot will be used as parking during the city's busiest season in the summer.

“We don't want to start construction this year because it would run all winter and cost more,” Bradley said. “We've set a fairly extensive schedule for ourselves, so we're hoping to meet it.”

In reviewing the plans, Chief City Planner Brian Gish said required plan revisions over the months have not changed the project substantially.

Still, the facade design has only preliminary approval and will be reviewed again before a final go-ahead is granted.

Likely too, Easton's new bus terminal will get a better name, LANTA's Armand Greco and Fred Williams said. Some have already found “intermodal” a bit confusing, they said, though “bus terminal” in the name may not do the building justice.

The 2.4 acre site will also be home to the National High School Sports Hall of Fame Museum, retail shops, a restaurant and a pocket park.

“So are you willing to state publicly that Easton's bus station is going to be better than Bethlehem's or Allentown's?” asked Easton Planning Commissioner Robert Sun.

“Absolutely,” replied Greco.

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