The parking garage adjacent to the Northampton County Courthouse will undergo construction, so drivers who frequent the garage will need to find a new place to park.
The Easton Planning Commission unanimously approved plans on Wednesday at Easton City Hall for Northampton County to construct a new parking garage at 669 Washington St.
Tom Serpico of Pennoni Associates, the civil engineer for the project, told the commission the plans call for demolition of the existing two-level garage and surface parking lot on the site.
Serpico said construction is expected to last between 12 and 18 months. Commissioners raised concerns about construction impacts, particularly where cars would park during construction.
“What happens to the parking for the residents who live around it while it’s under construction?” Commissioner Hubert Etchison said. “And the answer is: nightmare.”
Serpico said they hope to have prefabricated pieces of construction come in to help expedite the process.
“That’s the goal, is to have as little disruption as we can,” he said.
The county plans to construct a three-level parking garage totaling about 38,991 square feet. The structure would provide approximately 322 parking spaces, replacing the current 298 spaces on the site.
The new garage would remain within the existing footprint, while removing surface parking along Washington Street.
Serpico said that area would be converted into lawn space rather than additional parking.
He explained that while the net increase in parking is limited, the primary goal of the project is to replace outdated infrastructure. He also said the redesign would improve the overall site layout and condition.
File photo of the Northampton County Courthouse parking deck in 2017.Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com
Rust drips along a concrete beam in the Northampton County Courthouse parking deck in August 2016.
Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com
He said the garage is used by both county employees and courthouse visitors and is often full on court days. He noted that the additional parking spaces would help address demand.
The proposal eliminates the Washington Street entrance. Serpico said all vehicles would enter and exit from the rear of the garage using an existing fire lane.
“So based on the traffic study that was put together by our transportation department, the queuing and the traffic that goes onto South Union Street that eventually gets to Washington Street, it’s going to function almost the same as it is currently,” Serpico explained. “We believe the one entrance in the parking garage will be sufficient and be adequate for the use of the garage.”
Serpico described the internal layout as having two-way circulation with ramps connecting all three levels near the entrance and exit area. He said the garage would function similarly to the existing structure but with updated systems.
Serpico explained that the top level would be used for surface parking, with two enclosed levels below it. He said the conversion of surface parking to lawn space would reduce impervious coverage and lessen stormwater impacts.
The project includes sustainability-related features, though some details are still being finalized, according to Serpico. He said the design allows for electric vehicle charging stations and future expansion, as well as the potential installation of solar panels on the top level.
He also said the county intends to continue its off-hours parking agreement with the city, though final details will need to be coordinated between city and county officials.