N. Strabane supervisors to consider office park proposal on Route 519

January 22, 2019

Gideon Bradshaw
Observer Reporter

A developer with designs to build an office park on in North Strabane Township is waiting on a decision from supervisors.

Representatives of Hard Four Investments on Tuesday presented their conditional-use application to build a 9,000-square-foot “flex building.”

The property is at 948 Route 519, near Eighty Four Lumber’s headquarters. Hard Four, also known as Four Stars Pipe and Supply, is seeking permission for the project, which will include warehouse and office space when it’s completed. The site is zoned industrial.

Among the questions supervisors had for the presenters was one from Robert Balogh about the need for reliable stormwater management.

“We’ve had too many disasters, which makes us acutely aware of this particular problem. ... We want to make sure that it’s done safely.”

Jamie Harshman, president of the firm Harshman Civil Engineering Group, assured officials his clients “respect that tremendously.”

“I’m confident that based on our design, in fact, we reduce the flood flow” by adding retention means at the site, Harshman said. “So our hope on that basis is we will be improving the flood characteristics of this watershed.”

Following the meeting, he wasn’t sure whether his clients had found prospective tenants for the project. He said they would be consistent with the uses allowed in the zoning district.

Township solicitor Gary Sweat recommended leaving the hearing open for procedural purposes, to avoid triggering a 45-day timeline during which officials must render a decision, until supervisors formally bring up the application for a vote.

Harshman told supervisors he’d “like to advance things as soon as possible.”

“I feel like we’ve got a lot of things in motion” he added, citing other permits involved. “If the board feels continuing is necessary, there’s more to figure out, that’s fine.”

The board could vote as soon as its meeting next Tuesday.

“It’s more a procedural thing – continuing this hearing to the date they decide to decide,” Sweat said.