CLEARFIELD – A vote to approve a subdivision allowing PennDOT to construct a new district building met with some resistance by one Lawrence Townshp Supervisor.
Last week the Lawrence Township Planning Commission approved a subdivision at the north parcel of the Clearfield Firemen’s Commerce Park along Bud George Blvd., Â that is exptected to result in a new PennDOT District 2 headquarters. The subdivision would consist of 9.58 acres.
According to prior emails with PennDOT and information provided by The Clearfield Foundation, PennDOT had looked at other options, including reworking their current building as well as the vacant K-Mart building.
The estimated land acquisition cost for the 9.58 acres determined by a survey is $726,300. Eighty percent of the net proceeds of the land sale will be returned to the commonwealth through the Commonwealth Financing Authority, then loaned to other CFA projects in the state. In 2006, The Clearfield Foundation borrowed $5 million from the CFA.
“I have a lot of comments,” said Johnston, who called Bud George Blvd, “An investment for a monument.”
“Same bootlicker will come along and want to name it Bud George PennDOT Building,” added Johnston.
He stated that the building will not supply tax dollars to any governing body in the county. He said the $18 million could be used in other ways to help state problems. He also pointed to the other options PennDOT was looking at.
“They have multiple other options.”
“The is a bad deal,” said Johnston. “The taxpayers need to wake up and smell the burning dollars.”
After the meeting, Clearfield Foundation Executive Director Tom Stojek commented.
He noted that the Foundation turned what was a former strip mined, moonscape into an area ready to be developed, including infrastructure.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve done on the north park,” said Stojek. “This public investment will lead to additional private investment in the north park.”
The vote to approve the subdivion passed, 2-1 (Bill Lawhead and Ed Brown voting for, Johnston against.)
