Hampton Township Council unanimously approved tax and lien exoneration for all parcels in the Hemlocks Conservation Plan, on the condition of their acquisition by the Allegheny Land Trust.
The action at council’s April 24 meeting pertains to property in an uncompleted phase of the Hemlocks townhouse development, adjacent to North Park. The land trust’s intent is to expand the park by 22 acres, according to municipal manager Ryan Jeroski.
“Given the fact that the property is never going to be developed — there’s no public infrastructure back there — the odds of us ever getting the value of the liens is pretty much zero,” he said. “I think this is actually a worthy cause to do it and would be a benefit to our residents.”
At a previous meeting, he said the value of the liens with penalty and interest is about $34,000, and he has talked with Hampton Township School District officials about providing exoneration, as well.
“We will not be absorbing any legal fees to file this or anything like that, either,” Jeroski said.
Also at the April 24 meeting:
• Council authorized the manager to execute easement agreements with two property owners as a necessary step in a project to replace the Clearview Road bridge just to the east of Route 8.
The agreements are with Route 8 Development LLC and A&D Holding Company LLC.
• Upcoming community events were announced: Recycle Rama, 9 a.m. to noon May 11; Pints in the Park, 5 to 9 p.m. May 17; Friendship Day at the Depreciation Lands Museum, 1 to 4 p.m. May 19; and a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. May 27 at the Veterans War Memorial in front of the community center.