July 20, 2005
by Jaime Bumbarger
Mo Valley Bureau Chief
Reproduced with permission.

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BELLEFONTE-- A proposed landfill, industrial park and interchange in Rush Township are inconsistent with Centre County's comprehensive plan, according to the Centre County Planning Office. Officials from the planning office made that report to the Centre County Planning Commission last night.

Bob Jacobs, planning director, outlined the process his office took in reaching its recommendation, which included examining the county's comprehensive plan as well as the comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance of neighboring Snow Shoe Township. The Federal Highway Administration is requiring the county to sign off on the proposal by stating it will not conflict with its long-term plans as part of its review of a Point of Access study for a proposed privately-funded interchange off Interstate 80. The interchange would be used to access the landfill and industrial park proposed by Resource Recovery LLC.

Mr. Jacobs said the only access to the site currently is through Snow Shoe Township via Gorton Road whereas the closest public roadway in Rush Township is state Route 504, approximately four miles away from the site at its closest point.

According to his report, some aspects of the plan are consistent with the proposed land use and interchange, such as sections encouraging proper disposal of waste and increased public awareness of energy production sites.

But it is inconsistent in other areas, including the potential degradation of natural resources and community and economic development, Mr. Jacobs said. Of particular concern, he added, is the potential traffic impact that would be created for Snow Shoe Township, something over which the municipality is relatively powerless.

He said the planning commission has an obligation under the state's Municipalities Planning Code to ensure compatibility in land-use planning between adjacent municipalities. According to Chris Price, assistant director, based on the inconsistencies with the goals and recommendations of the comprehensive plan coupled with Snow Shoe Township's existing planning and land-use controls, the planning office recommended the planning commission find the proposed plans inconsistent with the county's comprehensive plan.

However, he reiterated a point he made last month, that this recommendation does not mean the planning office prefers the use of local roads as asserted by Rush Township supervisors at their meeting and Resource Recovery LLC in its full-page advertisements in The Progress. If the permit application is approved by the state and FHA, he said the planning office recommends the only acceptable access is from I-80.

Planning commission members said last night's report and recommendation included a lot of information to digest and asked for more time to review it before taking action. The CCPC then will make its recommendation to the Centre County Board of Commissioners, possibly next month.

Regardless of how CCPC acts, a second consistency review will be conducted by the Centre County Metropolitan Planning Office. The FHA requires CCMPO also sign off on the proposal by finding it consistent with its long-term transportation plan. A report by the CCMPO is not expected until the fall.

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