Conservationists address commissioners on county sale of wetlands to developer

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

The announcement that Lebanon County has tentatively agreed to sell undeveloped land including wetlands to a developer prompted representatives of two conservation groups to air their concerns at the April 17 meeting of the Lebanon County Commissioners.

The county has signed an agreement with BT Lebanon County LLC to sell 17 acres of land near the PennDOT driver’s license center in South Lebanon Township.

Read More: Commissioners tentatively agree to sell S. Lebanon Twp. parcel to developer

BT Lebanon County LLC is owned by Bruce Thaler, a former Blair County dentist turned real estate developer and entrepreneur. In late December 2022, county officials sold nearly 4 acres of adjacent commercial land at 860 E. Old Cumberland St. to another Thaler-connected LLC, Aspen Hill Partners, for $770,000.

Thaler has previously developed stores for Sheetz through his BT Management Group, leading to speculation that the Altoona-based convenience store chain could be eyeing a location on the site.

Read More: Land developer connected to Sheetz finalizes years-in-the-making purchase of county lot next to DMV

About six acres of the 17 acre parcel are wetlands forming the headwaters of the Quittapahilla Creek, the county’s main east-west waterway that flows through Lebanon city and into the Swatara Creek.

Michael Schroeder, president of the Quittapahilla Watershed Association, told commissioners that “we are gravely concerned about the environmental impact of the development … mainly because the wetland … acts as a giant sponge during high rain events and is crucial … for minimizing the odds of destructive flooding … downstream.”

Schroeder asked that his organization “be given a seat at the table in any future discussions” about the land, and that the county “at a minimum delay any final sale until the environmental impact of any future development can be researched, investigated, and made public.”

Schroeder closed by questioning whether another convenience store fits into the county’s decades-old comprehensive plan, which is in the early stages of being updated.

Rich DiStanislao, president of the Doc Fritchey Chapter of Trout Unlimited, told commissioners that his organization is concerned “because any development along the headwaters will increase the flow that’s going downstream … and the potential for storm water damage.”

Echoing Schroeder’s concerns, DiStanislao noted that “we have not seen any study.”

Board chairman Michael Kuhn said commissioners appreciate the comments and their organizations’ dedication to a healthy Quittie, but had no specific comment on their requests.

In other business, commissioners:

• Sitting as the county’s Board of Elections, formally approved ballots for the May 23 primary and heard from election director Sean Drasher, who said mail ballots should go out to voters this week. Drasher reported that plans for the primary are in place and remarked that “this is the quietest election cycle since I’ve been here.”

Read More: Here’s the list of candidates in Lebanon County’s 2025 municipal primary

• Heard from treasurer Sallie Neuin that the county has a cash balance of $6,300,881.59 and that property tax payments are coming in.
• Heard from human resources director Michelle Snavely and approved various employee terminations, resignations, promotions, hires, and status changes.
• Approved a one bed census reduction, from 24 to 23, at the Renova Center, the county facility that provides services to individuals with severe or profound intellectual disabilities. Facility director Janelle Gechter said Renova has been operating under the limit, which affects eligibility for funding.
• Approved an agreement between the county and the county’s Housing & Redevelopment Authority for the operation of the 1st Time Home Buyer Program. Authority director Dan Lyons said it is required by the state Department of Community and Economic Development, which funds the program.
• Approved on a 2-1 vote a tax abatement rollback for property recently purchased by Our Lady of the Cross Catholic School in North Lebanon Township. The property had been in the Clean & Green program, and the school could have been forced to repay taxes forgiven in the program. The rollback means that the school will not be required to reimburse the county. Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz, citing precedent, voted no.
• Approved property tax exemptions for seven disabled veterans
• Approved hotel tax grants of $5,000 to Music at Gretna and $4,000 to the Friends of Old Annville.

Lebanon County Commissioners meet the first and third Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in Room 207 of the Lebanon County municipal building, 400 S. 8th St., Lebanon.