Mahoning Township approves subdivision for track-casino plan

The project will need no zone change from the township, officials said.

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

HILLSVILLE, Pa. — Mahoning Township supervisors approved a subdivision for a proposed harness racing track and casino — the first step toward making the facility a reality.

The subdivision splits 275 acres off property owned by Carmen Shick, Kenny Shick III and Kendra Taback. It is located south and east of Ambrosia Coal and Construction Co. offices at the intersection of U.S. Route 422 and Pa. Route 551, Edinburg.

The parcel, it was announced last week, will be sold to Centaur Inc. of Indianapolis for development of the track and casino. It has frontage on Baird Road and U.S. Route 422. Carmen Shick, a local businessman, has stated he plans other commercial development on the adjoining acreage.

Supervisor Poncho Exposito said at the supervisors’ Monday meeting the land is already zoned “mixed use highway,” which would allow the track and casino with no zoning changes.

He said public water is available to the property and that “there will be a sewage plan.”

The next step is for the developers to submit a plan to the township. He said numerous other permits will be required before construction can begin.

The township planning commission gave the subdivision plan a favorable review when it met in special session Sept. 7.

Other business

Also Monday, supervisors agreed to meet with representatives of Union and Pulaski Townships to discuss multimunicipal zoning. Zoning cooperation among the three townships was recommended by consultants in a recently completed comprehensive plan for the three townships.

The comprehensive plan must be presented at public hearings before it is adopted. Those hearings have not yet been set.

Exposito noted that cooperative zoning was recommended to encourage coordinated development of the U.S. Route 422 and 224 commercial corridors.

He said cooperative zoning would allow townships, for example, to designate an area in one township for a specific use — and that use would not have to be provided in the other two townships.