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Plans Submitted for Former Harner Farm Land

A shopping center with three store fronts is in the works for a parcel of the former Harner Farm land on West College Avenue.

The Ferguson Township Planning Department is currently reviewing the preliminary land development plan for the aptly named Orchard Square development, which is proposed to be built on the lot next to a coming Sheetz store at the southwest corner of West College Avenue and Whitehall Road. Sheetz is scheduled to open at that location this fall.

Plans for the one-floor, 19,854-square-foot building were submitted by PennTerra engineering on behalf of property owner Aspen Whitehall Partners on Aug. 11.

These plans show three commercial spaces of 10,722 square feet, 6,483 square feet and 2,566 square feet on the 3.689-acre parcel. Plans also include 119 parking spots located on three sides of the building.

The site is a part of the 71.9 acres of former Harner Farm property that was rezoned for commercial and residential use in 2018 following a request from the Harner family and developer Aspen Whitehall Partners.

The property, which is surrounded by commercial and residential development, is within the regional growth boundary, and since 2000, it has been designated as mixed-use in the regional comprehensive plan land-use map.

Aspen Whitehall completed the purchase of the 71.9 acres in November 2018 for $5.6 million.

The developer intends to have a mix of single- and multi-family residential, retail and office space, though formal plans for most of the property — which includes more than 27 acres of commercial land and 44 of residential — have not yet been submitted.

The Harners are keeping the remaining 33 acres of farmland owned by their family since 1945 for downsized fruit and produce production and their farm store.

This story appears in the Sept. 2-8 edition of the Centre County Gazette