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Home»Development Authority Minutes»Development Authority
9-17-18 Minutes

Development Authority
9-17-18 Minutes

MINUTES

DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP

REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

The following were in ATTENDANCE:

AUTHORITY MEMBERS                                        TOWNSHIP PERSONNEL

Max Stoner, Chairman                                                 Erin Trone, Township Assistant Manager

Peddrick Young, Vice Chairman                                   Mary Ellen Banks, Recording Secretary

John Eby, Secretary                                                      Steven Miner, Solicitor

Salvatore F. Marone, Treasurer           

PUBLIC IN ATTENDANCE
Art Campbell of Campbell Commercial Real Estate, Inc.

Max Stoner, Chairman called the meeting of the Lower Allen Township Development Authority to order at 6:03pm and announced Proof of Publication was available for review.

H. Edward Black was absent with excuse.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 20, 2018
Mr. EBY made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 20, 2018 meeting. Mr. MARONE seconded the motion. Motion carried, 4-0.

PUBLIC COMMENT: There was none.

STAFF UPDATE:
Mrs. Trone reviewed the following with the Board:

a) Financial Advisor Selection – Concord was selected and already had the kick-off meeting with them.
b) Bond Counsel Selection – Eckert Seamans was selected and they have had a joint kick-off meeting with both of these entities.
c) Business in Our Sites Grant Application – This Grant was submitted on Friday along with the $350 fee. Mrs. Trone explained we should hear in mid-November if we receive or not. We asked for $8.5 million for the loan for acquisition of the site and also $3 million for site work; demolition, abatement to prep the site so that new construction can begin.
d) Appraisal – this was not printed out since it was a large document; however, was sent via email to the Board. The appraisal was completed by JSR who had done an appraisal for us on the Yetter Court property. Mr. Eby stated he was pleased to see it was appraised at $20 million with the assumption that it is developed the way the Board presented it.
e) Environmental Document Review – Mrs. Trone explained Barton & Loguidice was hired to do an environmental document review. When we first discussed purchasing this property A & G Environment Solutions provided two different environmental assessments and two different property condition reports with each being 500 pages. So, B & L was hired to review and report back to us telling us what matters and should be important to us and what we should follow up on. They included “next steps” if the Board would like to follow up on. Discussion ensued.

i. Mr. Eby stated he had an opinion on the following:
1. The limited structural evaluation – since the two story retail space is to be torn down, this would apply to the Border’s store and the one story retail area we are thinking of retaining and converting into a conference center and will have to have architectural work done anyway to repurpose it so it doesn’t matter if there are structural issues since it is going to be drastically reconstructed.
2. The Survey statement – we have recent land development plans that would have survey information on them. What we don’t have is information on the supposed squabble with Penn Dot.
3. Phase I – environmental study is needed before you demolish it; however, you don’t need it now per Mr. Stoner who stated lenders will want an updated Phase I. Discussion ensued.
ii. Mrs. Trone further explained our plan is if we hear back by the end of November concerning the Grant, we will probably go for short-term bank financing instead of an actual bond issue. The Board can make a decision at a later meeting.
iii. Board requested that Erin get a 2nd proposal from BL Environmental Solutions (which is different than B & L per Art Campbell.)
iv. Estimated closing date is mid-January per Mrs. Trone.
v. Recapping per John Eby: no action required at this time.

f) Per Mrs. Trone the Market Assessment Study which was prepared by Tetra Tech has a lot of good info concerning the hotel and conference center which is planned.

APPROVAL OF 990:
The 990 was prepared by Brown Schultz Sheridan and Fritz. Mr. EBY made a motion to authorize Chairman Stoner to sign the 2017 IRS 990 report. Mr. YOUNG seconded the motion. Motion carried, 4-0.

RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Regular Meeting of the Development Authority recessed into Executive Session to discuss sales agreement @ 6:28pm.

RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING
The Regular Meeting of the Development Authority reconvened @ 6:53pm.

Mr. MARONE made a motion to approve the sales agreement as presented with a minor correction by our solicitor. Mr. EBY seconded the motion. Motion carried, 4-0.

Mr. Eby stated the following:

a) Reminded the Board and Mrs. Trone to include Yetter Court sale price on the next meeting agenda.
b) Concerning the letter discussed in prior meeting concerning the blighted property owner – the owner ignored that letter and several citations. Last week, staff had a meeting with Cumberland County Blighted Property Reinvestment Board. The Board concurred with the township. Discussion ensued.

NEXT MEETING OF THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
The next meeting of the Development Authority is scheduled for Monday, October 15, 2018 at 6:00pm.

ADJOURNMENT
Mr. MARONE made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. EBY seconded the motion. Motion carried, 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:01pm.