GREENCASTLE – The head of the Antrim Township Board of Supervisors is reacting to criticism from the farming community about the development of two distribution centers slated to go up next year.
Pat Heraty told News Talk 103.7 FM that Franklin County and Antrim Township will always be known for its agricultural heritage.
“If you look at our zoning map in Antrim Township, it’s not a very large area that’s been zoned for those types of projects, they just happen to be areas that have been zoned that way for decades,” Heraty said.
Recently, Antrim Township officials approved plans for a fulfillment center, which has not been publicly identified, and a distribution center that will house U.S. Cold Storage, both projects are estimated to bring 2,100 jobs to Franklin County.
Heraty said more and more farmers are looking at selling their properties for market value to developers.
“It’s certainly their right and we won’t stand in their way,” Heraty said. “We intend to have that kind of development to divert the tax revenues away from the homeowners who pay property taxes through our failed system in the state of Pennsylvania.”
The fulfillment center will be located on Milnor Road in the Antrim Commons Business Park. The U.S. Cold Storage will be built on Hykes Road.
“We look at the projects as a win-win,” Heraty said. “We’ll always have a strong agricultural heritage here, and continue to do so.”
