Economic development commission to press county supervisors on property strategy, sewer and housing needs

Northumberland County Economic Development Commission members agreed to ask the Board of Supervisors for direction on how to handle county-owned properties and to press for a strategic, multi‑criteria review that accounts for zoning, infrastructure and long‑term planning. The commission set a special session with the Board of Supervisors for July 23 at 4:30 p.m. to discuss potential economic development opportunities on county‑owned land.

Why it matters: Commission members said the county’s sewer and septic capacity and the need to be grant‑ready are central to whether properties should be held, repurposed or sold. Several members said short‑term sales could foreclose options for future sewer expansion, parks, tourism or workforce housing.

Bob, executive director of the commission, told members he had placed planning commission spreadsheets of candidate properties into the commission’s working files and planned to propose that “we consider all properties available rather than just ones that they’re looking for.” He said he expects the Board of Supervisors meeting to provide “guidance and direction” on whether the commission should narrow or broaden its…