Loyalsock supervisors get glimpses of progress, other work needed
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From getting a gander at the growing commercial district, to improvements for those using James Short Park and what roads are on schedule to be paved next year, the recent Loyalsock Township supervisors' annual Fall Road Tour provided a perspective ahead of 2022 construction season for leadership and their guests.
Officials on the tour, which lasted about three hours and covered various locations in the township next to Williamsport, said they took a look at the status of projects, some under way, and developments, some of which are planned and some just recently opened.
Golden Strip booming
The tour covered places such as the Golden Strip on East Third Street, where Bill Burdett, township manager, pointed out the status of new businesses and development, much of which is expected to add to the traffic volume.
These included the Verilife Dispensary, a possible location of a new Chipotle restaurant, the construction site of the Texas Roadhouse restaurant, the Hobby Lobby and future site of Popeyes at Russell Avenue.
Recreation
While passing by James Short Park, tour-goers learned that the trail from the parking lot near the softball field needs to be moved closer to the softball field due to a storm water management project.
In looking at relocating the trail, the township is looking to add two accessible parking spaces and one unloading parking space to the north of Pavilion 3.
The recreation department is having a challenge with those who rent the pavilions driving in to unload their vehicles and then leaving their vehicles on the trail or parking in the grass.
Burdett said that with this new trail and parking spots the trail would be blocked off at Pavilion 3 so no one could drive into the park any further and would eliminate the issue the recreation department is having.
Burdett discussed a complaint regarding Miller Avenue that was made earlier in the year. The gist of the complaint was that during baseball games, people were parking on both sides of the street, not leaving enough room for two vehicles to get down the road.
A draft ordinance has been created that would make the east side of the street no parking.
Shannon Lukowsky, recreational director, explained the the east side of the street will be part of the Miller's Run Greenway Trail and will be designated as a shared bike lane on a township road. This work will be done during Phase II of the trail construction next year, she said.
Housing
The tour group went to Heim Hill Road and heard a bit of its history. Back when Mill Creek Estates was first proposed the developer planned the development in three phases and subdivided the property for those different phases.
Only one phase was developed and now someone is looking to purchase the properties for phase two and phase three and make a new development for single family homes.
The tour went to some flood buyout properties. Burdett explained that the property owner of 2097 Meadow Lane has requested a flood buyout due to repeat flooding of the structure.
Burdett also pointed out the property at 1830 Warrensville Road.
The structures have all been demolished and the township now owns the properties. The group also was shown the property on Meadow Lane abuts the property on Warrensville Road.
Paving projects were eyed by the tour group including one on Cameo Estates McConnell Drive, which is on schedule to be paved next year and Hepburn Hill Road, also on tap for paving in 2022.
Trees
The tour looked at some tree-related issues. It reviewed a property at 1560 Sheridan St. and the owners' tree request. Burdett said that a street tree along Lose Avenue fell during a snow storm last year. The township tree ordinance requires the property owner to replant street trees.
The property owner has requested the township take down the remaining four trees, one on Lose Avenue and three on Sheridan Street, as they are not in the best condition.
The owner said if the township would cut them down then they would replant five street trees.