BELLEFONTE — Two new construction projects are in the works near University Park Airport in Benner Township — a 15-building, mixed-use development and a house of worship. Centre County commissioners heard reports about the potential projects during a meeting on Sept. 20.
THE CASCADE
Preliminary plans for “The Cascade” show developers intend to build 15 mixeduse buildings in the Airport Park Subdivision on High Tech Road and along the western right-of-way of Crosswinds Drive.
The buildings will include three floors, 148 residential units and 74 non-residential units. Per township zoning, the bottom floor of each building will consist of commercial or industrial space.
GREATER BUFFALO RUN VALLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Preliminary plans for the Greater Buffalo Run Valley United Methodist church consist of a 5,010-square-foot church to be constructed along the northern rightof-way of Buffalo Run Road, approximately 1,000 feet west from its intersection with Armagast Road.
DEP INVESTIGATION
Both projects are near the site of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s investigation of chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in Benner Township water supplies. The investigation area is primarily bordered by Buffalo Run Road, Bernal Road, Big Hollow Road and Rock Road. The study is ongoing.
The county planning office has been in contact with DEP, which has reported that there are no restrictions to development in the area of the two projects, said county Subdivision and Land Development Planner Christopher Schnure.
Schnure said he has asked developers to allow DEP to go on site to gather soil tests “to help DEP try to isolate where PFAS plume is located.”
Schnure said DEP recommends that those in the area with the ability to connect to a municipal water supply should do so. He said The Cascade has already made an agreement with State College Area Water Authority.
The well for the church will be outside of the study area.
The Administrative Record, fact sheet about the investigation, map and additional information about PFAS are available on DEP’s website at www.dep.pa.gov/Benner-HSCA.
The commissioners unanimously agreed to move a memorandum of understanding for each project to next week’s consent agenda, allowing the county planning office to work with Benner Township and the developers as the projects move forward.
No plans have been approved at this time.
