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January 12, 2013

Wendell August site application put on hold

Board also airs landfill concerns

By Monica Pryts/Staff Writer Allied News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Township supervisors have put a hold on the Wendell August Forge application regarding the future site of the company's new facility.

Supervisor Richard Dillaman on Monday said he felt a "little uneasy" approving the conditional use application because the property hasn't changed hands yet.

Township officials on Thursday held a public hearing to review the application, filed on behalf of Wendell August by developer Wesex Corp., West Middlesex.

Wendell August has been planning to build on property on state Route 208, also called Leesburg Grove City Road.

Supervisors on Thursday said they were in favor of the application, but Dillaman said he has since learned Wendell August hasn't finalized its purchase agreement.

Will Knecht, Wendell August owner and company president, said after Thursday's hearing that he expected the deal to be finalized by the end of this week. The company is buying a 12-acre parcel from GCDS, LLC.

Barbara Brown, township administrator and zoning officer, said Monday the land contract between the two entities means Wesex and Wendell August can represent that property.

Brown agreed to check with township solicitor Ray Bogaty on the status of the final step of the sale.

Dillaman made a motion to table the vote on the application until they have confirmation the sale has been wrapped up.

Gary Hartman, chair of the board of supervisors, and Judith Hassler, vice chair, agreed.

Brown noted it's not uncommon for companies to have building plans in place before a property is officially theirs.

Wendell August, a longtime metal crafting business, is relocating its operations to the township following an accidental fire in 2010 that destroyed its Grove City facility.

The company has several retail outlets and is currently leasing space in Grove City for manufacturing.

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In other business, the supervisors briefly discussed their concerns with the landfill being proposed by Tri-County Industries.

It would be located next to Springfield in Pine and Liberty townships on the site of the company's current transfer station operations on state Route 208. There's been increased truck traffic on township roads from trash hauling over the past year or so, and that could get worse if the landfill opens, Dillaman said.

He proposed the supervisors submit comments in writing for the Jan. 28 public hearing and meeting the state Department of Environmental Protection is hosting to address questions and concerns about the landfill.

Hassler and Hartman agreed, with Hartman adding a lot of trash blows off of the garbage trucks, littering the roads.

"This is ridiculous," he said.

All three supervisors hope to be able to attend the hearing but they're not planning on testifying. Tri-County representatives will also be there.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Grove City High School, 511 Highland Ave., followed by the hearing at 7:30 p.m. Citizens will be able to ask questions and present oral testimony; those planning to testify are asked to notify DEP in advance.

Advance notice and written testimony should be sent to: Gary Clark, Community Relations Specialist, Department of Environmental Protection, Northwest Regional Office, 230 Chestnut St., Meadville, PA 16335. Those who don't attend the hearing can submit written testimony to DEP through Feb. 8. For more information, call DEP at 814-332-6340.

Published Jan. 9, 2013, in Allied News. Pick up a copy at 201 A Erie St., Grove City.

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