CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – The Clarion Area Agency on Aging will be relocating its offices after the first of the year.

“This move is to position the agency to better respond to the needs of the county’s aging population as well as demands that the future of State and Federal funding may place upon the agency,” said Aging Board President Harold “Jake” Jacobson.

“The future of social service agencies will be marked by greater cooperation and regionalization. The agency’s current facilities were dictated by a county-based system and have proved to be grossly inadequate and increasingly constraining for the evolving work of the agency let alone positioning it for the future.”

The new facilities, which will be located on Route 322 between Clarion and Strattanville, are being designed and built for the agency by Beckwith Rentals. Beckwith Rentals will also serve as the agency’s landlord.

“We are excited for the possibilities that this move holds for the future of the agency and its work with the growing aging population of Clarion County,” said Jacobson.

The Clarion County Planning Commissions unanimously approved the office building proposal Wednesday night at the group’s regular monthly meeting. The proposal — submitted by owners John J. Beckwith and Nathan L. Beckwith — received the preliminary approval for land development

County Engineer Kevin Reichard said the 5,633 square foot office building would be located on 1.89-acre parcels owned by the Beckwiths.

“They do have existing access to Route 322 on the private road called Venture Lane,” said Reichard. “They are proposing a 14,777 square foot parking lot with 22 new parking spaces, which exactly meet our requirements and are 10 foot by 20 ft. in size. Appropriate setbacks are on all sides.”

The Conservation District has approved their storm water management and DMS control plans, according to Reichard.