Luzerne County Council approved a requested tax break for a proposed $500 million commercial development project in the Hazleton region on Tuesday.
Council also rejected two proposed ordinances that would have placed ballot questions about amending the county charter before voters in the May 18 primary.
Tax abatement
Council voted 7-4 to grant a 10-year abatement of property taxes on new construction in a planned commercial development on a 393-acre tract that stretches from Hazleton into Hazle Twp.
Hazleton Creek Commerce Center Holdings LLC plans to build five massive warehouse and manufacturing buildings on the long-vacant mine-scarred tract, near state routes 309 and 924. The commercial space will be marketed to Fortune 100 companies, the developerâs attorney, Raymond Rinaldi, told council.
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Five seats on Luzerne County Council will be on the ballot next year, and at least two new council members will be seated in 2022.
The May 18 primary, slightly more than five months away, is expected to attract a large field of council candidates from both major parties.
That is partly because two incumbents whose seats expire at the end of 2021, Harry Haas and Linda McClosky Houck, are term-limited and may not run for re-election. Also, incumbent Sheila Saidman, whose seat also expires at the end of next year, said last week she will likely not seek another term.
At least one former council candidate, Republican Gregory Wolovich, has announced plans to run again next year.