Dorney Park Gets Planners' Ok To Add Parking, High Rides

got the go-ahead from the South Whitehall Planning Commission last week for zoning changes that would allow the park to expand its parking area and erect high rides.  

The proposals will now go to the township commissioners for review.

Dorney's parent company, Cedar Fair LLC, from Lehigh County with the idea of expanding its parking area. The park wants the land, at Hillview and Dorney Park roads and near Interstate 78, rezoned from residential to commercial recreation to allow for the lot. 

Dorney General Manager Jason McClure said Dorney would initially use the site for parking, but future plans could include additional rides. He said the area near Steel Force is currently being used for overflow parking, but could be freed up for other attractions.

“The amendments we’re seeking would allow the park to survive, compete, thrive and expand,” he said.  

The current zoning map has the appearance of a box of crayons. An orange area, for example, is zoned to only allow rides under 30 feet to protect the residents of Haines Mill Road; a yellow area is zoned specifically for one ride, while a green zone has different restrictions for another amusement.

The park requested zoning be standardized throughout the park -- with some restrictions, including the replacement of an existing ride with another at the same or approximate location -- without having to meet with the township.

Attorney Joseph Bubba, who represents the park, cited the removal of the Laser coaster as an example. He noted that . McClure said the restriction would limit the park’s ability to find a replacement. 

“We’d have to go looking for a ride that meets the same height [as Laser],” he said, adding, “It’s not an easy task to find a ride with the exact height as the ride that’s being replaced.”

The park wants to be able to place rides in excess of 85 feet, to compete with other parks that are building taller amusements to attract more visitors.  

The new zoning would give the park flexibility to install attractions.

“The park doesn’t intend to put up 30 to 40 new rides in excess of 85 feet,” said Bubba. “Its proposed total for amusements of that height is 11.” 

In addition, the park would have to meet certain performance criteria such as lighting and music before placing an amusement in a standardized area, and any replaced or modified amusement would have to be in the general area of the attraction it is replacing. For example, the park plans to add an i in 2012, a ride topping out at 138-148 feet, at the Laser footprint.