Clearfield County Commissioners Amend Petition for Zoning Changes

John Sobel, Joan Robinson-McMillen and Mark McCracken, the Clearfield County Commissioners. (GantDaily File Photo)

CLEARFIELD – After further discussion Tuesday, the Clearfield County Commissioners authorized an amendment to their petition to change the zoning of county-owned property.

County Solicitor Kim Kesner said the board met with the Lawrence Township Supervisors and the Lawrence Township Planning Commission on Sept. 14.  He indicated that their initial petition was placed on hold so that the commissioners could determine how to proceed.

Kesner then detailed their discussion of a “more appropriate pursuit” of the zoning changes. He said it was proposed that they switch the zoning to commercial for the Multi-Service Center property and to industrial limited for the Professional Office Park. In addition, it was suggested that they don’t make any changes to the zoning of the property, which surrounds the Clearfield County Jail. The board approved for those changes to be reflected in an amended petition to be filed by Kesner.

“That did seem to be the clear consensus,” Commissioner Mark McCracken said.

McCracken said they wanted to make sure the properties were zoned appropriately so that it would stimulate the development of the area.  Commissioner Joan Robinson-McMillen agreed, adding that they wanted to get these properties back on the county’s tax rolls.

The board had previously considered rezoning its property in the area of the jail, in addition to the Multi-Service Center and the county cornfield on Leonard Street. At the present time, both the Multi-Service Center and the cornfield properties are zoned as residential suburban. The jail’s surrounding property is designated as rural agricultural, according to prior GantDaily reports. At a meeting June 8, the commissioners authorized an application to change the zoning of all these properties to industrial limited.

“Subsequently, the board has recognized additional issues,” Kesner said.

For approximately three months, the county has attempted to sell the Multi-Service Center building. At a Sept. 7 work session, the commissioners authorized Board Chairman John A. Sobel to enter into negotiations with Jeffrey S. Long of Graystone Court and developer of Colonial Courtyard, who has twice submitted proposals for the purchase of the building.

Although they will engage in negotiations with Long, the commissioners also agreed then to leave their options open. As a result, they are continuing to accept any and all written proposals that are received by their office. They have maintained the same asking price of $350,000 for the building.

Long has twice-submitted his proposal to the board of commissioners in the amount of $126,000. His submissions were received during the first and second rounds of requests for proposals. In his Aug. 4 letter, he outlined his intended use for the building.

According to an Aug. 10 GantDaily report, Long said that his intention was to completely renovate the property and convert it into additional Graystone Court apartments. If further studies revealed it unfeasible to remodel the building, he said they may tear down and re-build a new unit.

“You can be rest assured that something positive for the community will come from our project plans and help put this property back onto the tax rolls for Clearfield County,” Long wrote in his submitted proposal to the board.

At an Aug. 24 meeting, Kesner advised a Graystone Court representative who was in attendance of their initial petition before the township to rezone the land in the area of the Multi-Service Center. He said their petition then requested that it be rezoned to industrial limited.

Kesner explained that residential apartments would not be a permitted use under the zoning designation of industrial limited. However, he noted that those plans were not definite, and there was to be further discussion.

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