THROOP - With the latest step completed, the future of 48 acres of reclaimed mine land in the borough should take shape in the spring.
The aerial topography of the property has been done, and now the council will wait for the results to be presented, said President Thomas Lukasewicz.
The council has been plodding toward a plan for the property, which borders Olyphant and Dickson City, since it was acquired more than 20 years ago. At a recent borough meeting, the council voted for a flyover of the area to have the aerial topography of the land updated, which will allow a master plan to be crafted.
"We're probably going to start to take a very hard look at the 48 acres and try to determine what the most feasible plan is to move forward economically, with the times as uncertain as they are," Mr. Lukasewicz said, noting discussions should begin this month. "We're going to try to come up with a master plan to fit the financial restraints that the borough has at this time."
When that master plan is created, Mr. Lukasewicz said he hopes to see a "green space," noting conditions for the borough to maintain the property.
"If you don't have green space, there are options where a private developer can come in," he explained, though he hopes that isn't the case.
"If you do go that route, you're still going to have to spend borough funds to maintain the roads, to maintain the sewers and the stormwater," he said.
Some council members, like Mark Mazak, expressed an interest in another future for the property.
"I just think there are other things that people in the town need," he said. "I really don't believe it's in the best interest of the taxpayers to use borough taxpayer money to put another park in."
He suggested allowing a developer to come in with an opportunity to increase the tax base, or looking into other alternatives, such as wind turbines.
Councilman Neil Furiosi said he was unsure what the space should be used for, but said he wasn't in favor of a park.
"As for another park, I don't think we need one," he said, adding that he was waiting to hear all of the suggestions before he made up his mind.
Those suggestions and the creation of the master plan should be discussed in the next several months, and Mr. Lukasewicz hopes those conversations will lead to action.
"I don't want to spend millions of dollars on that park. I just want a green space where we can have walking trails, gardens and where you can take the dogs," he said. "I would say realistically, if we can simplify the master plan and have it approved by the DEP, this is something that can be accomplished this year."
Contact the writer: rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter