$25M project eyed in Sadsbury
Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era
Updated Apr 10, 2011 22:59
Christiana
By DEBBIE WYGENT, CorrespondentA
$25 million corporate campus that could create 250 to 300 jobs and bring hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to the cash-strapped Octorara Area School District is currently under planning consideration in Sadsbury Township, Lancaster County.
Bill MacCauley of John Rock Inc., who purchased the historic 115-acre Brown farm in Sadsbury Township last year, told Sadsbury Township supervisors April 5 that he is in negotiations with a prospective buyer. He asked that the matter be considered by supervisors and the township's planning commission.
Although MacCauley is keeping the identity of the buyer confidential during sensitive real estate negotiations, he told supervisors that the buyer is interested in creating a corporate campus for one wholesale business with loading docks, an office, and packaging and storage space.
MacCauley said the buyer has in mind a corporate space similar to the business park near Coatesville that houses businesses including Keystone Helicopter, CDTI and his own John Rock Inc.
He said the proposed campus could occupy between 40 and 70 acres of the Brown tract, which is just north of the Dutchway Farm Market and J.B. Zimmerman Hardware on Route 41. Access to the new site would be through the existing Sadsbury Business Park and would not require a new road or traffic light, MacCauley said.
During the meeting, supervisors noted that the proposed development is in the township's mixed-use zoning district, which allows manufacturing, packaging, storage and commercial businesses, along with residences.
"We are looking for your feedback," MacCauley told supervisors, noting the prospective buyer is also looking at other properties.
"It sounds good to me," said Supervisor Greg Esh.
"I'm with Greg; I'm very interested," added Supervisor Eugene Lammey. "We've been looking for something like this for a while. That is our urban growth area in the township."
Township zoning officer Bill Beers said he thought the light industrial warehouse and office space would be a good mix. He said township planners will need to agree that the proposal meets the township's definition of mixed-use zoning.
"This is what we need here," MacCauley said after the meeting. "It will bring in tax revenue and good jobs."
"When you are writing an ordinance, you are writing in a cloud, and then someone drives a truck through it," MacCauley said. "Too many of the townships zone it wrong. We need little corporate parks."
David Blank, a planning commission member, invited MacCauley to present his plans to the township planning commission at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the township building, 7182 White Oak Road, Christiana.
In other business, supervisors:
• Signed a letter for the Heritage Group confirming that since the state Department of Transportation took a portion of the group's property, lots one and two of its subdivision are not buildable.
• Signed plans for the Zook subdivision on Mount Vernon Road.
• Agreed they would prefer a 10-year franchise with Comcast, rather than a 20-year agreement.
Read more: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/373880#ixzz1JSTwdLJx
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