CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — Northland Forest Products recently announced plans for a kiln-drying facility on a 20-acre site in Clarion Township that will need an estimated new 25 employees.
(PHOTO: A worker at a Northland Forest Products kiln-drying facility in New Hampshire. Photo courtesy Northland Forest Products.)
Plans were announced during an “information-only” presentation to the Clarion County Planning Commission at its July meeting. A formal application is expected at a later date.
Northland Forest Products, a New Hampshire-based hardwood lumber processor and distributor, proposes nine buildings at the site. Typical operations at the site will include the following:
- Receiving rough cut lumber.
- Sorting lumber in a storage yard.
- Drying lumber in pre- dryer building and kilns and hairdryer and air drying in a storage yard.
- Inspection of the processed materials.
- Sorting finished materials.
- Shipping of finished materials.
The site will be accessed from Burnham Road (T–556). Officials anticipate approximately 35 tractor-trailers delivering and picking up products from the site on a weekly basis. Typical hours of operation will be 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and 7:00 a.m. to Noon on Saturday.
The planning commission was told water and sanitary sewer service will be provided by a proposed water well and an on-lot septic system. Other utilities such as gas, electric, and communications will be extended to the site by various utility companies.
Tim Gourley, an engineer with Tract Engineering, PLLC, made the presentation.
The KGC Federal Credit Union, located at 778 Betty Ave. in Knox, also received preliminary approval for a land development application and modifications from setback requirements. KGC is planning to construct a new 1,268 square foot building addition on to their existing 953 square foot credit union building. A new 8,400 square foot parking lot is also being planned.
As of January 3, 2008, KGC Federal Credit Union was approved by the NCUA for a community charter. All persons who live, work, worship or attend school in and businesses and other legal entities in Ashland, Beaver, Elk, Licking, Salem Townships and Callensburg, Knox, and Shippenville Boroughs are eligible to join the credit union.
Additionally, Jared and Mallory Griebel were approved for a preliminary land development application in Paint Township permitting them to construct a new 40′ x 64′ commercial business building with a height of 12 feet on their four-acre parcel. A new 70′ x 150′ parking lot area is proposed with 25 parking spaces 10′ x 20′ in size. A PennDOT highway occupancy permit was approved for the construction of a new 20′ x 150′ access drive from State Route 66. Building setback distances exceed the minimum 40-foot setback distance requirement.
The proposed business is reportedly a brew pub in close proximity to Route 66 and the Rail 66 Country Trail.
In other business, the planning commission:
- Approved a letter of support for New Bethlehem Borough’s Penn Street Bridge/Walnut Street Project.
- Approved a request for a letter of support for Clarion Borough’s DCED Multimodal Transport Fund (MTF) Program Funding Application for Glassworks Pedestrian Safety and Freight Access Improvements at the site that formerly housed the Owens-Illinois Glass Plant.
Planning Commission members attending the meeting included Keith Decker, Hugh Henry, Fred Anderson, Eugene Metcalf, Roger Nulph, and Tom Spence.
The next scheduled meeting of the Clarion County Planning Commission is slated for August 15 at 7:00 p.m. at the Clarion County Administrative Building, 330 Main Street, Clarion, Pa.
