During last Tuesday's Columbia Borough Council work session, citizen comments sparked a discussion on the future of the McGinness Innovation Park project.
Local business owner Ron Madar addressed council with concerns, explaining that he initially supported the project because it was to include drone technology. He said he was saddened, however, to hear that those plans fell through. Referring to "DR1," the drone company that was to be the anchor at the park, Madar asked council, "What went wrong?"
Heather Zink, council president, explained that a grant (that the borough had applied for on behalf of DR1) was denied and the company does not currently have funding to set up operations in the park. Madar asked why the grant was denied, and Zink said, "They don't tell you."
Citing a recent LNP article, Madar said he was concerned about the potential for warehouses and industrial buildings moving to the site. Describing Manor Street as “a wide street, a nice residential area,” Madar said truck traffic, noise, dirt and air quality issues would harm the area. "By no means is this low-impact."
Some councillors told Madar they don't want truck traffic at the site and blamed a February 20, 2025 LNP article for omitting councillors’ concerns about warehouses and manufacturing there. [Note: The article did include statements from councilwoman Barbara Fisher and Zink opposing “large trucks” and “warehouses and distributors.”]
The article also captured a dissenting view from councilman Eric Kaufman, in which he said, “I understand we have our opinions and our likes and wants and dislikes. But our intention is to sell this property. We make it suitable to sell for the largest possible dollar and not handcuff ourselves to what our vision was originally. Even if the change results in more traffic and manufacturing noise, that’s just the nature of it. I’m desperate to sell.”
At Tuesday's meeting, resident Frank Doutrich told council: "You're in over your heads," referring to the project.
Although the meeting was classified as a work session, official action was taken. Council voted to advertise a special joint meeting of the Planning Commission and Council for Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 7 p.m. to further discuss the zoning and permitted uses for the McGinness Innovation Park.
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