Huntington Township approves predevelopment agreement for JVI maintenance site

Huntington Township supervisors voted to sign a predevelopment agreement that allows JVI to begin site preparation for a proposed maintenance facility on rural Harrisburg Road.

Representatives from JVI, including Scott Barnard of JBI and Roger Drake, described the property purchase and the company's plan to submit a land-development application and a major amendment to its NPDES plan. Barnard told the board the intended interior work is nonstructural and that the developer seeks permission to begin strip-and-fill operations at the company's risk while final approvals are pending.

Barnard explained how fill operations will be managed and why topsoil is stripped before fill placement: "Topsoil is not regulated to fill, for one reason. It's organic. So basically, we strip the topsoil off of the area that we're going to fill to be placed back on top of the pile when we're done," he said. JVI said the fill is clean material and that it is revising permits and coordinating with PennDOT about driveway access and the number and width of entrances.

The board asked for clarifications about environmental and traffic reviews. John Sykes of TRG (the consultant listed by JVI) said the team plans to set a scoping meeting with PennDOT within about four weeks to determine highway-occupancy requirements and to confirm whether two access points will be allowed. JVI representatives also noted that a future land-development plan will address buffers, stormwater controls and other ordinance requirements.

After discussing the Planning Commission's recommendation and the protections in a predevelopment agreement, a supervisor moved to sign the plan provided by the agreement; the motion was seconded and carried on an affirmative voice vote. The board instructed JVI to continue coordinating with township staff, the township solicitor and PennDOT as the formal land-development review proceeds.

Next steps: JVI will pursue the NPDES amendment, schedule any required PennDOT scoping and submit the formal land-development plan and associated permit applications; the township will review those submissions under its ordinances.