A building in Lehighton owned by St. Luke’s University Health Network can be used for operation of Carbon County Children & Youth Services.

The borough’s Zoning Hearing Board on Thursday granted a special exception on the application from the Carbon County Commissioners to use the facility owned by St. Luke’s University Health Network at 525 Iron St.

As part of their approval, zoners attached two conditions, according to zoning hearing board solicitor Matthew Schnell.

Schnell said one condition is the wheel stops on 15 spaces that abut Sixth Street, and two spaces that abut Iron Street.

He said the second condition is the number of employees is to be limited to the number of parking. Applicant represented the premises will have 43 spaces at the location, therefore the maximum number of employees allowed at the premise without the applicant seeking additional relief from the zoning hearing board will be set at 43.

St. Luke’s University Health Network had previously granted commissioners permission to file the subject zoning application.

The building is located in the R-2 Residential, Medium Density District pursuant to the Lehighton Borough zoning ordinance.

Earlier this month, commissioners said the estimated timeline for moving Carbon County Children & Youth Services to its new location in Lehighton has been pushed back until 2023.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner said the county hopes to get the project out for bid in July and award a contract in August with a start date for renovations in the building between September and October.

The project will take about six months once it begins.

The county is now looking at a possible completion date of March 31.

Carbon County purchased the building at 525 Iron St. from St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem in April for $500,000.

The hospital will continue to rent the space in the building that currently houses the wound care center until a new site is constructed.

The building will serve as the new Children and Youth department, which has outgrown its offices in Jim Thorpe and is expanding to help lower the caseloads per caseworker as per the state requirements.