“The local wells could not support a large water-intensive industry or multiple industries,” he said of the initial area that was prepared.

Contacted by the Tribune, Ferry, a past executive director of Meadville Area Industrial Commission, a predecessor agency to the Alliance, said “I support the statements that I made at the time I made them. I fully support the economic development group and their ongoing efforts to further develop the park.”

Wetlands, wildlife issues

Only in the past couple of years has progress started to be made on the total development of the park, but at a much slower pace than originally anticipated because of wetlands and wildlife habitat issues, Turner said.

Before construction of the public water system for the industrial park could be considered, wetlands within the 1,300-acre site had to be delineated because it’s near the Conneaut Marsh.

Starting in 2006, the Alliance worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to determine what areas are truly wetlands.

“Delineating the wetlands took two years,” said Turner. “We didn’t get the jurisdictional letter on what areas are wetlands until mid -2008.”

About 650 to 700 acres of the industrial park in the northern section of the park are characterized as wetlands that can’t be developed.

Mapping of the park has been completed and the land-use master plan is being finished.

As for the wildlife issues, the Pennsylvania Game Commission got involved in assessing the site because water wells for the water system are located in the Conneaut Marsh. The marsh is a highly protected area because of its composition and because it’s a nesting area for bald eagles, which are federally protected. The two initial water wells were located near eagle nesting areas and the two water wells that were eventually approved by state and federal regulators are farther east — away from the nesting area.

“We had to move the wells about five miles away,” said Turner.

Nesting eagles weren’t the only creatures causing concern for the Alliance.

“We had to stop work because of rare rattlesnake habitat,” he said. “It cost about $3,000 and several months to investigate. These are unpredictable things that have taken an extraordinary amount of time.”

Bragg, too, says the board has been frustrated by the slow pace at Keystone, but “they are reasons beyond our control.”