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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:
Victoria L. Stanish |
State Rep. Mike Hanna |
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TO: Rich Kerstetter, Editorial Page Editor, CDT
FROM: State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre
RE: Update on Rockview property
Last year, legislation was enacted that allowed the state Department of General Services to turn over 135 acres of land at the Rockview State Penitentiary to the Centre County Industrial Development Corp.
I recently introduced legislation that would authorize DGS to convey other parcels of penitentiary land to Penn State, Benner Township and the state Fish and Boat Commission. House Bill 1657 would convey 400 acres of Rockview land to Benner Township for $1 and authorize the sale of 1,124 acres to Penn State for a little over $1 million. The Fish and Boat Commission would also receive land that they currently lease for $1. I believe the proposed sale of the remaining acreage to these groups is in the best interests of both the environment and the residents of Centre County.
A series of meetings and input by local residents led to the conclusion that the best opportunity to protect the Spring Creek Canyon and adjacent land was through local ownership by the township and Penn State. Local ownership of the property by these two entities would ensure that the land would be owned by institutions that would be responsive to the needs and concerns of local residents.
Additionally, Penn State’s School of Agriculture’s ownership of these lands is consistent with the lands’ decades-long history of agricultural uses. It’s been suggested that the state continue to maintain the land, specifically the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, but DCNR has fully supported the plan to have Penn State, Benner Township and the Fish and Boat Commission manage it.
I know there are concerns about conservation and protecting the unique nature of the Spring Creek Canyon. However, numerous memorandums of understanding are in place which clearly govern development and specifically prohibit any development inconsistent with the Master Plan for the property. Through these memorandums, Benner Township will manage the canyon in a way that permits only passive recreational activities, and Penn State will oversee the uplands through its College of Agricultural Sciences, with an emphasis on scientific management and forestry, as dictated by the Master Plan.
These provisions are in the legislation, and if the agreements are violated, the properties would revert to state ownership.
I also intend to add an amendment to H.B. 1657 that would make the sale of the land conditional upon the conveyance of a conservation easement to ClearWater Conservancy and/or DCNR within two years of the initial date of the sale, or completion of the Master Plan, whichever is later. If this does not occur, ownership of the property would revert back to the Commonwealth. With these legal protections and the oversight of Clearwater Conservancy and DCNR, we can all be confident that the property will be managed properly.
Continuing to delay this action will subject the property to potential development, which is clearly not appropriate according to the environmental concerns that have been raised. Already, roadblocks in transferring the land have generated a proposal for about 100 acres to be turned over for residential development, and additional proposals have been made to put a sports complex on the property. While these ideas may have merit, they are contrary to the environmental recommendations made by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, which concluded that no development would be in the best interest of the canyon and surrounding acreage.
To me, this division of the land seems like a reasonable compromise for all involved. It would protect the sensitive ecology and natural resources that make up the canyon, provide room for activities by the university, and preserve outdoor traditions like hunting, fishing and hiking for the residents of nearby communities. And all of the legislation and agreements would protect the land from the threat of development.
The House State Government Committee, which oversees the Department of General Services, is holding a public hearing Oct. 25 to discuss my legislation and the proposed land transfer. I encourage all local residents to attend and make their views known on the land transfer proposal.
State Rep. Mike Hanna represents the 76th Legislative District in the state House.
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