CLEARFIELD – At the work session of the Clearfield County Commissioners Tuesday, the board heard about possible plans to develop a lot in the Clearfield Professional Office Park.
Leland Condon of Clearfield approached the commissioners and said he had plans to develop lot No. 5 and lot No. 6 at the park with multi-family housing units such as duplexes, townhouses and apartments. However, Tuesday morning, he learned that the state Department of Public Welfare has expressed interest in lot No. 5.
Several developers had exercised non-exclusive options for lot No. 5 at the park earlier this year. The DPW settled on a space in the Clearfield County Technology Park but now apears to be reconsidering.
Condon said the news sent him back to the drawing board, creating plans for two-story fourplexes on lot No. 6.
The issue of setbacks, Condon said, was a concern, but he noted that the plans he drew up Tuesday were very preliminary.
Condon said whether the housing would be for sale or rent was not yet decided.
“We will try to premarket to see which way would work better,” he said. “Whether people want to buy or rent.”
Clearfield County Commissioner Mike Lytle asked Condon whether he would consider the cornfield site. He answered that it was a possibility.
The cornfield had been under consideration by BioEnergy International LLC a few months ago for the construction of an ethanol plant. The company has since decided to build at the Clearfield County Technology Park.
County Solicitor Kim Kesner noted that the county has not charged for options to be exercised in the past. He said that when the land at the office park has been sold, it has been done at a rate of $25,000 per acre. Lot No. 6 is 1.94 acres.
The office park is currently home to office buildings, the county multi-purpose building and a range of “55 years or better” housing options.
Condon said he was not sure whether there would be an age restriction on any proposed development, but he said he said the development at the park should be uniform.
Commissioner Mark McCracken said that there are people on waiting lists for such housing in Clearfield County.
Lytle said such development would be good for the county.
“I wish we had another area like that to develop now,” he said.
Lytle added that Condon is well-known in the county.
“If people hear you’re building it, I think that will attract interest.”
The commissioners could vote to exercise an option on lot No. 6 at their regular meeting Tuesday at 10 a.m.