Planners endorse sewer overflow tank

The Williamsport Planning Commission has recommended approval of six applications, among them the land development plan for the Williamsport Sanitary Authority.

The authority plan, which is on City Council's agenda for final approval tonight, involves construction of a 2 million gallon combined sewer overflow tank and headworks building at its Central Treatment Plant on Jefferson Lane.

The project will cost about $10 million and is part of at least $100 million in work needed to comply with new state and federal requirements for reducing nutrient levels of effluent discharged into the Susquehanna River and halting combined sewer overflows into the river during storms.

Two neighboring businesses were acquired by the authority last year through eminent domain and subsequently were demolished to make way for the two new structures. Construction is to begin as soon as the weather allows.

The project and others planned over the next few years by the authority are mandated as part of Chesapeake Bay Cleanup strategy.

The other applications reviewed and recommended by the authority during its meeting Monday at City Hall included a subdivision request by George Seaman to create two lots out of his property at 840 Clark St., a variance applied for by Burt Copeland to convert 924 Funston Ave. into a vehicle repair garage and a special exception to allow Melinda Hadley Lyon to convert a room previously used as an office into a small rental apartment at 1024 Packer St.

Also recommended were certificates of appropriateness for new signs in the Central Business District applied for on behalf of the Lame Gamer at 140 W. Fourth St. and the soon to open Acme Barbecue and Catering at 445 Market St.

The certificates of appropriateness and Seaman subdivision also are on council's agenda.