Want to learn more about the status of the new development of the former New Jersey Zinc Company's West Plant?

George Petrole, chief operating officer for Northface Development LLC, Lehighton will present an update at a mixer sponsored by the Carbon Chamber & Economic Development from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, at the West End Saloon in Palmerton.Based on plans shared with the public over three years ago, Petrole plans to develop the site at 1120 Mauch Chunk Road into a 100-acre-plus sustainable high tech office park that could create thousands of jobs.Petrole initially presented his plan to the Palmerton Area School Board in Dec. of 2009, at which time the then- board unanimously agreed to adopt a resolution compromising certain real estate taxes for buildings and parcels of real property, formerly part of the Palmerton Zinc Company Holdings.The property has been in abandonment since Aug. 19, 2002, when the seller filed a Voluntary Petition for Relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, Petrole said.Petrole previously said the company anticipates the site will accommodate up to 27 separate building lots containing office and technology space of about 235,000 square feet, warehouse space of 213,000 square feet, and paved parking areas totaling 1,7. million square feet.Once completed, the park will have sealed more than 2,5 million square feet of land with building footprint, parking and lineal roadway, Petrole said. Of that, slightly more than 53 percent of the site will be permanently capped by impermeable improvements, he said.Petrole said the company's redevelopment efforts "are expected to bring thousands of jobs to the area, create an ongoing increased tax base for the authorities involved, and our plan intends to use as much of the 120-plus-acres as is possible for development."He said the company has completed a Phase I investigation through the Environ Corporation and completed the 'all appropriate inquires' as required by CERCLA for the property.