MARC: Talen rezoning won’t impact preserve

By Anna Wiest

awiest@dailyitem.com

DANVILLE — Following nearly two months of confusion, Montour Area Recreation officials are trying to set the record straight on the Montour Preserve and Talen Energy’s rezoning request.

The public has considered various maps, some of which made it appear as though a portion of the Montour Preserve was included in Talen’s request to rezone nearly 1,300 acres from agricultural and public/ semi-public to industrial, recreation commission Executive Director Bob Stoudt said.

“There’s confusion about to what extent it does impact the Montour Preserve, if it does at all,” Stoudt said.

The director said Monday he is confident the Montour Preserve, in its entirety, will be protected.

At the recreation commission’s regular meeting Monday evening, Stoudt shared an updated map — a compilation of information from various sources, including Talen Energy, Montour County, MARC, the Middle Susquehanna River Keeper Association and other sources.

Stoudt said the map is “intended to bring together the

See REZONING, Page A2

REZONING, from Page A1 various sources of information into one comprehensive map that might better illustrate the relationship between the Montour Preserve and the lands proposed for rezoning.”

Having worked on the map for a week, Stoudt said, “I believe that this is the best map we can put out to help those who have questions.”

According to Stoudt, inconsistencies lie in the southeastern border of the preserve on the map established in 2015 in a lease agreement between the commission and Talen Energy and a 2021 map in an agreement between the energy company and Middle Susquehanna River Keepers Association.

These inconsistencies impact the preserve’s Sugar Shack and the accompanying parking lot.

Though the land in question was included on Talen Energy’s rezoning request, Stoudt said he has met with Talen officials on-site and showed them the areas of concern.

“I am entirely confident that that section will be protected ...,” Stoudt said Monday.

While the recreation commission does not yet have a document guaranteeing this, Stoudt said he believes the group will have one soon.

Several members of the recreation commission board questioned why Talen would not need to resubmit their rezoning request to make this change.

Talen donation

Stoudt received a letter from Talen Energy Director of Real Estate Services and Property Management Marc Jackson on Monday detailing the company’s planned funding of various projects at the Montour Preserve.

According to the letter, Talen will provide funds for the following projects:

¦ $11,000 for light fixture replacement at the Heron Cove Boat Launch

¦ $12,000 for concrete pad repairs at Goose Cove No. 2 Pavilion and Heron Cove A Pavilion

¦ $5,000 for resurfacing at the Goose Woods Trail

¦ $40,000 to $50,000 for replacement of the Chilisuagi Trail Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek Bridge “While these projects ordinarily would be the responsibility of MARC under the terms of our lease, they will instead be included as part of our overall support of the Montour Preserve,” Jackson wrote in the letter to Stoudt.

Colby Wesner, who has been vocal about his concerns regarding Talen’s request, questioned when the company last made donations of this caliber to the recreation commission.

According to Stoudt, Talen’s last cash donation to the Montour Area Recreation Commission was made in 2019. Stoudt said the donation was several thousand dollars, although he could not recall the exact amount.

Montour Area Recreation Commission Chairman Tyler Dombroski was clear that Talen’s commitment of funds for these various projects will not change his stance “as far as ongoing concerns or frustrations.”

Dombroski, also the mayor of Washingtonville, commended Stoudt for his work in putting the map together.

“The frustration so many have had is the lack of real tangible information,” Dombroski said. The Montour County Board of Commissioners will decide on Talen Energy’s rezoning request at a public hearing on Dec. 17, according to Commissioner Rebecca Dressler.

The Montour Area Recreation Commission released an updated map Monday outlining the Montour Preserve and the land that Talen Energy has requested be rezoned to industrial use.

Anna Wiest/The Daily Item