SMETHPORT –– Those looking to develop and subdivide land in McKean County will now have to pay a fee to the county.
The McKean County Commissioners on Tuesday morning approved a resolution that sets fees for minor subdivisions, major subdivisions, residential land development, commercial land development, mobile home park development and recreational vehicle park development.
“McKean County is/was one of only two counties in the entire state that did not charge fees for subdivisions and land developments,” McKean County Planning Director Jeremy Morey said after the meeting. “The money that is generated will go into the general fund and will ultimately help fund the planning department’s budget.”
For minor subdivisions, four or fewer lots would total a $50 fee, plus $5 per lot; and fees for major subdivisions involving five or more lots are $100, plus $10 per lot. Residential land development that would be less than 20,000-square-feet would amount to $50; between 20,000- to 30,000-square-feet would amount to $60; and greater than 30,000-square-feet totals $70.
Commercial land development fees for less than 1 acre amounts to $100 and greater than 1 acre would be $150. Mobile home park development that has fewer than six lots would carry a $50 fee and more than six lots would be $150; and recreational vehicle park development between 600- and 1,500-square-feet would amount to $50 and sites that are more than 1,500-square-feet would total $75.
Morey said the rates are comparable to what is charged in neighboring counties.
“We looked at Elk County, Potter County and Warren County. We are less than Potter County, a little bit more than Elk County and are about even for Warren County,” he said.
In other business, the commissioners approved the county entering into a renewal contract with the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission for professional Geographic Information System (GIS) support as part of continuing the regional GIS initiative.
The contract is effective Jan. 1, 2016, through Dec. 31, 2018, and fees are $34,690 per year. GIS is used in several county departments, including the assessment office and the 911 Center.
Meanwhile, the commissioners accepted a grant award from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency for Pennsylvania Housing and Rehabilitation Enhancement funds in the amount of $50,000. The money will be used for the Second Ward Neighborhood housing project in Bradford.
The commissioners also authorized the county to enter into a renewal agility agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for an additional period of three years. The current agreement expires April 3, 2017, and the renewal would terminate on April 3, 2020. This agreement allows resources and materials to be shared between the county and state at no cost, Commissioner Cliff Lane said.
In other news, the commissioners approved real estate tax exemptions for the Downtown Bradford Revitalization Corporation for 0.69 acres of blighted vacant property on 72 Congress St. in Bradford and 0.09 acres of blighted vacant property on 50 Jefferson St. in Bradford; Kane Borough for 0.12 acres of land on 111 Fraley St. and 0.17 acres of land on 508 Biddle St., both in Kane; the Mennonite Church of Bradford for 0.16 acres of land at 16 Congress Place in Bradford to be used as church parking; and the Children’s Home of Bradford for acreage on 22 lots in Bradford.
Also, the commissioners approved a handful of county aid applications, including for Annin Township, $5,371 for a paving a section of Newell Creek Road; Keating Township, $9,063 for a future project; Lafayette Township, $5,149 for a sealcoating project; Otto Township, $3,872 for a future project; and Sergeant Township, $996, for the purchase of sand and salt for winter maintenance.
