The Warren Sentinel

 Article Date: Thursday , June 10, 2004

 Avtex plans dominate EDA work session

 Business park, connector road plans still being developed

By: Roger Bianchini

EDA staffer Marla Jones contributed to this story

Progress and plans at the Avtex redevelopment project dominated discussion at a June 3 Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority work session.

Design and development

Three evolutions of designs for portions of the Avtex Business Park were presented.  Current designs were included for the parking lot across Kendrick Lane from the Administration Building, which has been rezoned commercial and 26 acres to the west of the “ Admin Building” proposed for light industrial development.

The Administration Building is the planned 150-acre business park portion of the property’s first redeveloped site.   The “Admin Building” is currently housing the EDA offices and the project’s first tenant, E-Z Filer Systems, developers of a computerized paperless workplace.  E-Z Filer is in the process of expanding its developmental contract with the county Social Services Department to include the entire county government.

Among recommendations made were that the board put a plan for the Westside connector road,  also referred to as the Westside by-pass, before town council for consideration; move toward development of the business park’s infrastructure - roads, water/sewer, and power to facilitate marketing of parcels on the property; and prepare for EPA “Ready for Reuse” certifications on portions of the property as they meet necessary criteria.

Contract extension

County Attorney Doug Napier reported that the current deadline for final disposition of property and payout formula, as defined in the Real Estate Contract developed between the Bankruptcy Court Trustee and involved parties, is March 2008.  Napier said he is working on paperwork that would extend that deadline.  Extension is based upon ongoing remediation, release for reuse, infrastructure development and marketing timelines.

At the deadline, redevelopment partner and sole surviving owner of the property, FMC Corporation, could repurchase the site for fair market value but has indicated no desire to do so.

Site Work

An eight-acre parcel adjacent to and overlapping a portion of the Soccer Plex site on the southeastern corner of the property, which once housed a cole pile located against the power line is being cleared.  FMC site manager said that work was nearly competed.  Approximately 4 acres of that are located on the Soccer Plex.  County purchase of this property would trigger the contractual obligations for Avtex Property disposition as set out in the Real Estate Contract.  Bement also noted that the trees have been cleared from the Soccer Plex site as part of the clearing and grading work FMC agreed to do in exchange for fill dirt from the site.

There was also some discussion of the status of the site work yet to be completed by the Army Corps of Engineers.  It was recommended that EDA Board:

1. Request Project Summery (cost /timelines) from the Army Corps of Engineers;

2. Review List of Priorities for work/infrastructure development, etc.  remaining;

3.Request meeting with new Corps District Commander;

4. Await word on appropriation of $5 million in remaining federal funds for the Corps demolition and abatement work targeting the power plant complex, the final major building at the site.

In other business:

The Board was notified that a grant proposal has been submitted to the state Game and Inland Fisheries Department for upgrades of the Luray Avenue Boat Landing.  The grant, written by contractor Diane Hartson , was submitted through the office of Assistant County Administrator Dick Magnifico;

Due to a number of inquiries on the purchase of land in the Happy Creek Technology Park it was agreed that staff should pursue engineering designs for next phase of the subdivision on the park. In order to facilitate this, staff was directed to :

- Work with town to obtain topographical maps, plats, location of water/sewer , etc.

- Develop “ Scope of Services “ for Engineering Design;

- And obtain plats of parcels, locations of water/sewer for the extension of Progress Drive.