An area developer hit a snag with his plans to combine several lots to create space for a garage on a site in Lehighton.

During the Carbon County Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, the board reviewed but made no recommendations on a proposed land consolidation plan by Joseph Bennett, who has previously developed many sites in the county.

Ivan O. Meixell Jr., county planner, said that Bennett wants to consolidate the lots so he can build an ambulance garage. However, two paper streets have never been legally vacated by Lehighton borough, meaning that while Bennett owns the properties on either side of the streets, he does not own those portions of the land. Bennett was not present at the meeting.

Paper streets are land owned by a municipality that was planned for a street but never built; however, the municipality retains ownership of the paper streets unless they decide to vacate or abandon their claim to them.

Meixell said that Bennett had already started clearing the lot and was planning out the garage.

The site is located near the intersection of Bridge and Millway streets and includes two alleys and Penn Avenue, which are unopened and were never legally vacated by Lehighton. These paper streets are located between the parcels of land Bennett wants to use.

Meixell outlined his additional findings for the proposal, noting several other areas that need to be addressed and said that the review “precludes any recommendation for approval” and all notes will be passed along to Lehighton borough officials, the borough engineer and Bennett for further discussion.

The planning commission also provided paperwork on the process of vacating a paper street in Pennsylvania in its review.

“It comes down to Lehighton borough for review,” Meixell said.