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Business park put on fast track
Waiver OK’d for stockyards plan
Intelligencer Journal
Jan 08, 2009 00:17 EST
Lancaster
By JENNIFER TODD, Staff Writer

Although work has yet to begin on the first phase of the business park planned at the former Lancaster Stockyards site, its developer is eager to get started on phase two.

Tim Harrison said phase two will be a 50,000-square-foot office building designed to house a firm that processes health insurance claims.

Harrison said the company, which he would not identify, would like to take occupancy of the building on the 20-acre tract along Marshall Avenue in January 2010.

In light of the time-sensitive nature of the project, the city planning commission Wednesday unanimously granted Harrison's request to waive submission of a preliminary plan.

Harrison, of Staten Island, N.Y., said he plans to submit a final land-development plan for phase two to the commission on March 4 and is hoping to begin construction in the spring.

The proposed office building will be primarily a one-story structure but will include a two-story atrium and conference room, Harrison told planners. He said the firm would employ 330 people initially but expects to grow to 400 within five years.

Phase two of the plan also will include significant landscaping around the property and the construction of an access drive from North Plum Street.

Also on March 4, Harrison intends to present a preliminary land-development plan — including smaller professional buildings, a plaza with a fountain and some commercial sites — for the remainder of the property.

In addition, Harrison will be back before the commission Feb. 4 to finalize plans for the initial phase of the project: the construction of a medical research and development firm.

The planning commission approved the $20 million first phase of the plan in November, but since then Harrison has repositioned the structure that will house Benten BioServices, a start-up firm from Wilmington, Del.

The change necessitates approval of an amended plan.

Harrison said previously that Benten will anchor the planned business park.

E-mail: jtodd@lnpnews.com


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