City Council Okays Rezoning for Susquehanna Square Parcels 

LOCK HAVEN – City Council Monday night gave its okay to a rezoning request for a portion of the old Lock Haven High School football field practice site. Owners of the two adjacent plots, Patrick and Pamela Bigatel of Seattle and Susquehanna Square, L.P., of State College, are seeking to have the acreage rezoned from residential to commercial in anticipation of a commercial project there.

After Monday’s brief public hearing council gave its unanimous approval to change the zoning from residential to commercial. One resident residing across from the Spring Street/West Fourth Street site expressed concerns about increased traffic flow and the potential effect on nearby property values. And while council member Rick Conklin voted in favor of the rezoning, he did so, he said, reluctantly. He had earlier asked city zoning officer Cyndi Walker if city council would have no say if a commercial entity on the site would be taxable or non-taxable real estate; she said he was correct, council would have no say. The land in question is presently on the tax roles.

Council gave its approval without knowledge of what the rumored development would be. A local real estate agent and a representative from the Shaner Group, owners of Susquehanna Square, L.P., were present but said they could not comment on the prospective development because of confidentiality agreements. The report in the community, confirmed by rival realtors, is that the Geisinger health care system plans to locate some kind of medical arts facility on the site.

The Bigatel holding at the site in question holds five townhouse units. It is understood they would be leveled if and when the new commercial development moves forward.

The city planning commission had given its okay to the rezoning request a month ago. New city manager Greg Wilson said council is scheduled to give a second and final reading to the zoning change at its Jan. 22 meeting.