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Harborcreek supervisors approve final plan for Penn State-linked CMC building at Knowledge Park
Summary
Harborcreek supervisors approved a final land-development plan for a 27,641-square-foot CMC building at Knowledge Park, citing shared parking, delivery access and continued review by the township engineer and permitting agencies; the planning commission had recommended approval contingent on the engineer's final review.
Harborcreek Township supervisors voted to approve a final land-development plan for a CMC building at Knowledge Park at their March 18 meeting, clearing a step toward construction of a smaller footprint than earlier proposed.
A Penn State Behrend representative told the board the park remains healthy and said the campus-related research park currently houses 22 companies and brings roughly 400 people to the site each weekday. The final plan presented to supervisors reduces the building from a preliminary 40,000 square feet to 27,641 square feet and calls for shared parking with an existing building, six loading spaces at the rear, a traffic lane for deliveries circling the structure and an equipment yard on the west side.
Why it matters: Knowledge Park is a key local economic asset for Harborcreek, the board said, producing employment and earned-income tax revenue for residents who work there. The planning commission recommended approval but conditioned that recommendation on receipt of the township engineer's final review letter; supervisors noted that several agency and permitting letters remain outstanding, including ENS/PDS approvals and a sewer-availability letter.
Board discussion focused on site details and community impacts. Supervisors asked about screening for mechanical equipment and dumpsters (the township requires screened dumpsters), plantings to preserve wooded buffers and whether added impervious surface would change stormwater management. The township representative said the stormwater design saw only minor alterations and that the landscaping and parking remain largely consistent with the preliminary plan.
The developer team at the meeting included representatives from Altair and planners from Weber Murphy Fox; the project engineer (Adam Honey of Laird Associates) was listed on the plans but was not present. Officials emphasized that final construction permits will not be issued until the outstanding review and permit letters are received.
Votes and next steps: A supervisor moved and seconded approval of the final land-development plan consistent with the planning commission recommendation; several supervisors recorded verbal "yes" votes and the motion passed. Officials said they will await the township engineer's final review letter and the required permit letters before issuing any construction approvals.
The board also encouraged continued coordination among the developer, Penn State Behrend and township staff as the project proceeds through permitting.
