New wording prompts vote on park proposal

A high-tech business park is planned for the former Shenango China property.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- More comfortable with the wording of a resolution addressing the proposed Riverview Commerce Park project, Lawrence County commissioners said they are now ready to vote on whether to approve the 40-acre redevelopment proposal.
Last week, commissioners tabled approval of the redevelopment proposal for the high-tech business park being planned for the former Shenango China site on New Castle's west side.
At that time, Commissioners Steve Craig and Ed Fosnaught said they were concerned as to whether the wording of the resolution would require the Lawrence County Redevelopment Authority to buy all the properties within the plan's boundaries, and not just specifically the former Shenango China plant property -- which is the target area of the proposed redevelopment.
Plans also include several other properties stretching from Sampson Street to the Shenango River.
Commissioner Chairman Dan Vogler agreed to postpone the vote.
Revisions
At a caucus Thursday, James Gagliano, county planning director, presented commissioners with a revised resolution for the proposal.
Where the original measure stated that the redevelopment proposal "identifies specific parcels that must be acquired" to complete the project, the revised resolution reads that those specific parcels "may be acquired" ... "contingent upon receipt and approval of adequate funding."
On Thursday, Craig and Fosnaught said they are more comfortable with the revised resolution because now the redevelopment authority is not required to acquire the specific parcels, but has the option to do so. Vogler was not at the caucus.
"I was very concerned the original wording would require acquiring the parcels, even if there was no funding to do so," Craig said. "Then, where would the county redevelopment authority be?"
In January, the county planning commission and redevelopment authority each approved the original redevelopment proposal, which identifies specific parcels that must be acquired to complete the commerce park.
Necessary approval
Last week Gagliano and Lawrence County Solicitor John Hodge told commissioners the redevelopment proposal cannot move forward without commissioners' approval. Additionally, Gagliano and Hodge said, commissioners' approval of the proposal is needed before the redevelopment authority can seek funding to acquire any of the parcels.
And the authority could not move forward with eminent domain proceedings, should that process be deemed necessary, without the money needed to acquire the parcels.
Commissioners plan to vote on the revised resolution at their regular weekly meeting Tuesday.
The meeting, usually conducted at 10 a.m. at the Lawrence County Government Center in New Castle, has been moved to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Wayne Township Municipal Building on Route 288, Wampum-Ellwood Road.