A temporary structure for Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest, Salisbury Township, has been approved.

The Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board voted 5-0 to approve the appeal of North Star Construction Management Inc. on behalf of Lehigh Valley Hospital Inc., requesting a special exception to install a temporary MRI trailer and temporary walkway coverage for approximately eight months at 1220 S. Cedar Crest Blvd.

Zoner Joseph Kovach made the motion, seconded by Zoner Alternate Jessica Dunlap Yazujian, to bring the appeal to a vote.

The property is in the R3, Medium Low Density Residential zoning district, with Health Care Overlay District.

Sonya Glatz, senior project manager, North Star Construction Management Inc. and Ralph M. Natale, executive director, Lehigh Valley Health Network, represented the applicant.

Attorney Steven Boell, Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C., was the alternate attorney representing the township zoning board.

“The imaging center is at full capacity and can’t be used during construction,” Glatz said.

“While the magnet [MRI] is being upgraded, it can’t scan patients,” Natale said.

“Due to it going beyond the 30-day time frame is why it went into a special exception,” Michele Lopez, Salisbury Township assistant zoning officer, code enforcement officer and rental inspector said.

“It’s a temporary structure,” Lopez said, adding, “They’re basically in the center of the property so there’s no setback requirements.”

“Would it be better to give you a two-month period [in addition to the initially-requested six months]?” Zoning Hearing Board Chairman Attorney Kent Herman asked.

“I’ll take another month,” Glatz said.

“I would suggest you take another month,” Lopez said.

Zoners added two months to the original six-month request.

Zoners voted 5-0 to approve the eight month request. Kovach made the motion, seconded by Zoner Alternate Allison Leayman, to bring the request to a vote.

The Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board is next scheduled to meet, 7 p.m. Jan. 14, 2026, in the meeting room of the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.