Carlisle readies brownfield application, approves 'official map' for redevelopment plan

Carlisle officials are entering 2015 with momentum for the borough's Urban Redevelopment Plan, which focuses on three former manufacturing sites: IAC/Lear, Carlisle Tire and Wheel and Tyco Electronics.

The borough's application for a $400,000 brownfields assessment and cleanup cooperative agreement from the Environmental Protection Agency is due today, Council President Perry Heath said this morning. The Cumberland County commissioners approved a letter of support for the application yesterday.

The EPA grant would pay for required environmental assessments should the borough obtain the parcels of land. Property acquisition is a key component of public-private redevelopment projects borough officials are pursuing.

For example, at the IAC site, plans by Carlisle Events call for a hotel, grocery store and smaller shops, along with residential housing and plenty of parking.

Last week, borough council approved an "official map" that could pave the way for property acquisitions. An official map is a combination map/ordinance that lays out the community vision with the locations of public lands and facilities. It alerts property owners to the greater planning goals and gives municipalities more standing to acquire property.

According to the Municipalities Planning Code, "designation of a property on the official map does not constitute a taking in and of itself. It simply gives a municipality an opportunity to negotiate acquisition of property, or rights thereto, where a public use would be beneficial before development or redevelopment occurs.

"Once a property owner or developer notifies a municipality of their intention to build, subdivide or perform other work on land that is located on an official map, the municipality has one year to either purchase the land, come to a mutual agreement with the developer, condemn the land through eminent domain, or decide not to pursue the acquisition of the land."

According to the state, only 65 municipalities have adopted official maps statewide.

Heath said there has been no advancement of a tax increment financing proposal as part of the redevelopment plan. A TIF permits municipalities to issue bonds to borrow against the future tax proceeds from a development.

Source: Central Penn Business Journal