Girard Township residents sound off on proposed business park. Here are the key takeaways

GIRARD — For the roughly 100 people who attended a Girard Township public meeting Tuesday to comment on a proposed 200-acre business park in their area, the verdict was clear: They don't want it.

One by one, residents mostly of Girard Township stepped up to a microphone at the front of the Girard High School auditorium and voiced anger and frustration at Erie County officials, who they say have been planning for the park with little public engagement and transparency.

The park, if approved by Girard and Fairview townships, would occupy a 194-acre green space across from Pleasant Ridge Manor, just north of Pleasant Ridge Park and off U.S. Route 20. The park would mostly be situated in Fairview Township and extend roughly 20 acres into Girard Township.

The land had been publicly owned and leased for decades by Fairview resident and farmer Steve Wiser. Girard Township residents said they were caught off guard when they found out Erie County government had terminated Wiser's lease at the end of 2022.

They were also surprised when Erie County Council approved a resolution on July 11 that transferred the property to the Erie County Redevelopment Authority to begin pre-design work for the park.

"We don't want it," residents shouted during the raucous two-hour meeting.

Erie County Redevelopment Authority CEO Tina Mengine, who spoke on behalf of the plan, said the park would fulfill a dire need for available real estate of 50 acres or more to attract businesses and create jobs.

Residents in attendance Tuesday showed they were not convinced.

Here are some key takeaways.

What to know about the park: Fairview and Girard townships could be home to new 200-acre business park. Here's what we know

Residents decry loss of farmland, 'country atmosphere'

Multiple residents said the land transfer took away a valuable piece of farmland, hurting not only farmers and those who relied on their produce but the overall economy.

"We are putting farmers out of business," said Girard Borough resident Luanne Macisaac.

Macisaac said she enjoyed buying produce from Wiser because it wasn't marked up, insisting she could get "a head of cabbage for $1.50 at Steve's and it's $5 at Giant Eagle."

Another resident said agriculture was an important source of economic activity and that county officials should be stewards of the farmland, not destroyers of it.

Others added that a business park could mean a loss of tranquility, with heavier traffic on Route 20, more noise and impacts to wildlife and the environment.

Girard Township resident Braydon Scott said he worried about decreased property values.

"(People here) want a country atmosphere. They don't want to have the city right in their front yard," he said.

Residents' 'blindsided' by park plan: Girard Township could soon have a 200-acre business park. Some residents say they had no idea

Residents question lack of public engagement prior to land transfer

Residents also criticized Erie County officials for approving the land transfer without notifying them or holding any public town halls for Girard or Fairview township.

County Director of Administration Doug Smith, who spoke on behalf of the county Tuesday, said the resolution to approve the land transfer was added to a County Council agenda "two weeks before it passed" on July 11. He said the public had an opportunity to access the agenda on the Erie County website.

Residents said this wasn't enough time. They also said searching for an agenda item online was a sign of insufficient outreach by the county.

"One of the things that we ask for is transparency from our government," said Girard Township resident Valerie Pesta. "It's your duty to let us know, not to have us search it out all the time."

Smith said the land transfer was a necessary first step to allow the Redevelopment Authority to begin the public process. Residents argued that, as taxpayers, they had a right to know beforehand that publicly-owned property in their backyards would be taken away.

"Transferring property well before the project has even been approved is ludicrous," Macisaac said.

Residents further questioned whether Redevelopment Authority engineer Ashley Porter's involvement in the project amounted to a conflict of interest because he also works for Girard Township.

Porter said he would not be involved in the township review process of the park.

Residents ask why other Fairview business park isn't full

A number of residents asked why the county hasn't tried to fill the existing business park in Fairview Township.

Mengine said the Fairview Business Park, located near the intersection of Klier Drive and Avonia Road, is completely full except for 13 lots that are privately owned. She said the company that owns the lots had no interest in selling them before, and added that that recently changed and the lots will be marketed.

"Even if we could buy those, they would not solve the ultimate goal that we're trying to achieve. Most of them are 1-3 acres in size," she said. "We really need some massive property."

Mengine said the lack of large sites for industrial and office space is hindering the county, insisting "We need to build our inventory so we can be competitive to attract businesses."

Mengine said the Redevelopment Authority will use $4.5 million of its American Rescue Plan funds toward site development and infrastructure.

Residents in attendance argued the funds would be better invested in redeveloping blighted properties, not a green space.

Mengine said there is no 'Plan B' if townships reject park

Mengine described Tuesday's meeting as just the "first step" in a lengthy public engagement and planning process.

She said the Redevelopment Authority will hold more public meetings and modify the plan as necessary. She said the goal is to create an "attractive business park," not of heavy industry and "smoke stacks," but with green space, and a buffer around the perimeter.

She said a traffic study by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will evaluate whether a traffic light is needed. Porter said environmental impacts, as well as stormwater concerns, will be reviewed during the permitting process.

Mengine said the park aims to create jobs and bring back tax revenue to the townships and the county. The project will also add roughly 200 parking spaces to Pleasant Ridge Park and a walking trail around the business park.

She said the plan remains a "proposal" and that it's "ultimately up to your supervisors to determine whether this is a good idea or not."

Girard Township Supervisor Lindy Platz asked what happens if both townships reject the plan, considering the land has already been transferred to the Redevelopment Authority.

Mengine said, "We don't have a Plan B."

A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Girard Township residents sound off on proposed business park