MILLENNIUM PARK Owners of land seeking increase

A company promising up to 800 jobs is looking at the land.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County officials are holding off on condemning two pieces of property standing in the way of a multimillion-dollar development in Neshannock Township.
Lawrence County Redevelopment Authority tabled action Tuesday on filing court papers to take property owned by David C. Hamilton and Thomas and Christie Whittaker.
The nearly 90 acres sits in the middle of the proposed 500-acre Millennium Park, a high-tech business park bounded by Pa. Route 60 and the Shenango River.
Atty. Michael Parrish, representing the property owners, threatened to file a federal civil rights lawsuit if county officials continued with the process. He contends the land does not fall under the Urban Redevelopment statute's definition of blight. The land is largely wooded with two homes.
County Planning Director James Gagliano testified in a hearing before county commissioners Tuesday that the land is considered blighted because it is not being used for its intended use by township zoning laws.
The land has been zoned for industrial use for the past 20 years, but the Whittakers are living on their property, and Hamilton rents a home he has on the land and also rents the garage to a small business.
Parrish said his clients are willing to negotiate but feel what was offered isn't enough.
Other details
Lawrence County Economic Development Agency is handling land acquisition for the project. Six other property owners have sold.
Robert DelSignore, president of the economic development agency, said acquiring the land is extremely important to the project.
Gov. Ed Rendell has already promised $15 million to help develop the site, and the county has chipped in $3 million.
"Since this has happened, we have people coming to us. One person visited the site twice and has spent time with the governor in New Castle and Harrisburg," DelSignore said.
DelSignore said it is a major manufacturing firm promising 300 to 400 jobs initially and eventually employing up to 800 people. He said the salaries would range from $35,000 per year to $225,000 per year.
"It will absolutely catch this place on fire," he said.
The site got statewide attention when Rendell said that a major microchip manufacturer was considering locating on the site.
DelSignore said the manufacturer he has spoken to would supplement the microchip manufacturer's work and there would be plenty of room for both to locate in Millennium Park. He said the manufacturer should make its decision on whether to locate in the park within the next three months.
"The economic impact that will come from this is unimaginable," DelSignore said.
Gale Measel Jr., Neshannock Township supervisor, agreed.
"It's a unique opportunity in time to create jobs. These jobs could change the dynamics of the western Pennsylvania region," he said.
Lawrence County Economic Development officials say they have to follow laws that permit them to pay only the appraised value for property. Parrish contends his client's property is worth more than the appraised value.
Action taken
County commissioners approved the redevelopment plan early Tuesday that would give the authority to start eminent domain -- a process that allows government to take private property, usually in exchange for fair compensation.
But commissioners urged the authority to try to settle the matter through negotiation first.
Commissioners Steve Craig and Dan Vogler voted in favor of the plan, and Commissioner Ed Fosnaught voted against it. Fosnaught said he was concerned about infringing on the rights of private-property owners.
However, Fosnaught said he changed his opinion of the matter later when he learned that the Whittaker and Hamilton properties were on the commissioners' meeting agenda to become tax-exempt.
The land where both properties sit was declared a Keystone Opportunity Extension Zone, which means local and state property taxes are exempt for 10 years.
During a hearing on the redevelopment plan, the landowners' attorney said it would not be tax-exempt. Commissioners tabled action on approving that tax-exempt status.
cioffi@vindy.com