SMETHPORT — The McKean County Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve an Act 13 funding application from the Kinzua Valley Trail Club for $20,629.17 for trail development and also recommend approval by the county commissioners.
Greg and Maxine Davis of the trail club attended the meeting and answered questions concerning the fund request.
According to a summary, the project would continue construction of the Kinzua Valley Trail from the trailhead in the village of Westline eastward to U.S. Route 219. The trail is to consist of lightly trafficked U.S. Forest Service roads, the rehabilitation of one mile of existing abandoned railroad, the construction of a bridge spanning the Kinzua Creek and a new railhead at the intersection of Route 219 and Westline Road, which will accommodate 16 cars and an ADA compliant parking lot.
The completion of the three-mile segment will provide a critical link for future access for trail users to travel in either direction from Route 219, one of the major transportation arteries through the county.
This year, the Kinzua Valley Trail Club plans to apply for a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources C2P2 grant for most of the overall project funding. A 20 percent match is required. The Act 13 Legacy Fund money the club is seeking would be first applied as matching funds toward the DCNR grant or bridge construction if the grant application isn’t approved.
As the discussion began, commission member Leroy “Butch” Schaffer, a former Norwich Township supervisor, said that while he is not against the trail project, he would prefer to see Act 13 funds — money from impact fees of unconventional gas well drilling — “spread around and go to infrastructure projects.”
During the discussion, county Planning Director Jeremy Morey pointed to the $60,000 of Act 13 money set aside for Greenway projects.
Don Payne, also a commission member, noted there was no commission meeting in January due to bad weather, and at first said he would prefer to table the matter for more time to study the request.
Greg Davis said he would prefer the commission to consider the funding request at this meeting, citing planning purposes for the Kinzua Valley Trail Club.
Morey said this was the only application submitted for 2016 funding, despite the planning office informing all the county’s municipalities about its availability.
Morey added there are three uses for Act 13 funding — greenways, at-risk bridges and impact fees.
Once he knew that greenways funding was available in Act 13 funding, Schaffer withdrew his opposition.
Commission vice president Richard Kallenborn, sitting in for president Tony Clarke, said, “there are two ways to approach this: either table it or have a vote for approval.”
The vote to approve followed with all members voting in favor.
In another vote, commission members approved the Keating Township wastewater treatment facility project, Phase III, East Side.
Commission officers Clarke and Kallenborn were re-elected.
In his subdivision report, Morey noted 21 subdivisions have been submitted since the last meeting on Sept. 12, 2016, to Jan. 9, 2017. Four land developments were sent to the county planning office.
One violation was found.
Morey reported that the county commissioners OK’d the county’s revised land development and subdivision ordinance on Oct. 11 and became effective Jan. 1.
