Lycoming County commissioners approved an amendment to an agreement with ILK Family Limited Partnership that updates exhibit language on prevailing-wage requirements and developer drawdown instructions, and heard an extensive update from the project's engineering representative.

Virginia Figgles Carr of Dewberry Engineering, who identified herself at the commissioners' meeting, told the board the project is in the design phase and that a Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) application is forthcoming. "Currently, we're in the design phase for the project, and, hopefully, we'll soon have the design at the point where we can submit our permit application. So our HOP permit is on the way," Figgles Carr said. She said the development plan was reduced from an earlier concept of 219 units to 144 units after engineers identified wetlands and drainage constraints. "Right now, we're at a 144," she said. "Yes. There's an awful lot of wetlands that we have to avoid." Figgles Carr said the plan calls for single-family homes, duplexes and fourplexes that would be owner-occupied rather than rental units.

Commissioners and members of the public asked about traffic and drainage. Figgles Carr said a traffic study was not required by the Department of Transportation and that drainage has been the principal engineering concern. Commissioners emphasized the county's limited role in land use approvals: ARPA and Act 13 funds can be used as county infrastructure grants to support projects, but townships and municipalities retain zoning and permitting authority. One commissioner noted that county ARPA or Act 13 funding is disbursed after work is completed and submitted for reimbursement; the county does not "hand over" the grant funds in advance. The board approved the ILK amendment by motion and voice vote following brief comments from representatives in the audience.

Members of the public and county officials spoke in general support of housing development in the county during the hearing, citing local job growth and the need for owner-occupied housing stock. Commissioners reiterated that the funded infrastructure work must meet allowable-cost criteria and that payments are made based on submitted bills and program criteria.