Apr 8, 2003 By Steve Ostrosky 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – The new owner of a Mount Morris auto dealership will soon be able to continue construction of a 7,200-square-foot addition, as members of the Greene County Planning Commission approved his project during their first meeting in eight months Monday. Joe Romeo, new owner of I-79 Honda Mazda, had already begun construction on the building, but did not move further once he learned that the project had to be reviewed by the commission. Ann Bargerstock, Greene County director of planning and development, said the proposed construction was similar to the other two buildings already on the site, the erosion and sedimentation plan was approved, and the state Department of Labor and Industry has already granted an occupancy permit.

She said Engelhart-Power of Washington, which works with the county to conduct stormwater management reviews, has a few lingering concerns about the site’s stormwater containment, but those issues should be resolved by the end of the week.

“Every I has been dotted and every T has been crossed, essentially,” Bargerstock said. “Everything is in very good order.”

Commission chairman Donald P. Boord questioned a right-of-way on the site plan for a display area and asked if the parking area was on a public right-of-way. He said the Perry Township supervisors would have to vacate that area for use or see that the planning commission addresses the issue further.

Bargerstock said the supervisors might have already vacated the right-of-way when the property was developed years ago. She said she will check her files Tuesday before speaking with the township’s solicitor about the issue.

Regardless of the confusion, the commission granted site acceptance, preliminary approval and final approval with two conditions to the developer, so that he may continue construction of the facility as soon as the developer’s agreement is signed and completed.

In other business, Bargerstock updated the commission about the upcoming comprehensive plan process, which should take 12 to 18 months to complete. She said the plan will provide a land use model and will incorporate 10 other facets that will be important to the overall development of the county.

She said the state has encouraged counties to work with municipalities to create comprehensive plans, which she said are important tools to handle future growth.

“I want a tool I can use to help municipalities and help people to make decisions about where they want to locate something,” Bargerstock said. “This will offer direction about how, where, why certain things are put in certain places.”

The county will begin soliciting requests for planning firms to help with the process sometime next month, she said.

Finally, the commission held its annual reorganization meeting Monday, its first meeting of the year. Boord was re-elected chairman and John Stewart will remain as vice chairman. The commission will meet the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in the commissioners meeting room of the Greene County Office Building.