Oil City, PA, October 20, 2006--Clarion County planning commission members have given the go-ahead for Clarion Boards Inc., a joint venture of Tarkett and Aconcagua Timber, a Chilean wood panel company, to build a new laminate facility next to its Paint Township plant, according to the Derrick website.
The 300,000-square-foot facility will be used to manufacture wood laminate flooring.
"All the plans look very good," said county engineer Kevin Reichard as commission members reviewed the designs at a business meeting this week before approving the company's land development application.
Environmental clearances have been approved for the project, which will be built about 200 feet away from the fiberboard plant off Route 322.
Reichard said the building will be situated on a site that measures just less than seven acres.
An 818-foot setback is required for a building this size, he said.
Utility needs related to water and sewage are in place, and a covered walkway will connect the two plants.
Jean desAutel, general manager of Clarion Boards Inc., has previously listed the cost of the new plant at $40 to $50 million.
It is projected to be in full production by next spring, providing 90 to 100 new jobs.
Clarion is to become the North American headquarters for Tarkett Laminate.
The facility produces wood panels and laminate for the North and South American markets.
The current facility will serve as the main supplier of the new automated plant, consuming 30 percent of its capacity.
Farmington park plans
A number of other county projects were handled at Wednesday evening's commission meeting.
This included Farmington Township's plans to develop a park on a five-acre site off Route 36.
Commission members granted the township supervisors revised preliminary approval for phase I of the project as presented by Rick Tote.
It features a helicopter pad, Little League ball field, playground, and picnic shelter.
Tote said the second phase would include a senior ball field, walking trail and restrooms plus additional picnic shelters.
Township supervisors would like to construct a park office building in the final phase of the project.
The commission also gave preliminary approval for a land development application and relief from a setback requirement to WFH Inc. of Sligo for a new 3,200-square-foot gas station and convenience store to replace the Citgo station off Exit 60 in Paint Township.
Project representative Joe Ferguson said the old station will be removed once the new structure is placed.
It will feature additional pumps, he said, and construction is expected to begin in February or March.
Perry Township supervisors received preliminary approval for plans to construct a restroom/concession facility at the David Wetzel Memorial Park in West Freedom.
And, Commodore Homes was given the OK to move ahead with adding more than 3,000-square-feet of storage space at its Paint Township site off Route 66.
