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Chris Foreman 412-856-7400 x8671
Staff Reporter
Tribune-Review

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Wednesday - May 22, 2013

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Redistricting plan provides continuity in state representation for Penn-Trafford School District residents

A custom race-car parts manufacturer is planning to move its shop from Loyalhanna to the Bushy Run Corporate Park in Penn Township.

PRL Motorsports, which moved from Orlando, Fla., to Pennsylvania two years ago, is proposing to build a 10,000-square-foot facility on a nearly three-acre lot in the park.

Business owner Patrick Linn, who also is a race-car driver and team manager, said he's hoping to start moving equipment from the Loyalhanna shop to the site in June or July.

Linn, who lives on Pittsburgh's South Side, said he was drawn to the park by its proximity to Route 22 and its convenience for his five full-time employees, who reside in the Greensburg, Trafford and Latrobe areas.

“It's definitely a convenient spot,” said Linn, who graduated from St. Vincent College with a communications degree. “It's not as expensive as Allegheny County, and it's still in a good location.”

Last week, the township's planning and zoning commission voted to submit PRL's plan to the township's solicitor and engineer and the Westmoreland County Planning Department for review and comments. Penn Township commissioners also will have to review and approve the plan.

“It's nice to see more development going in there,” said Phillip Miller, chairman of the planning board.

PRL is the latest company seeking to build in the 168-acre park, which formerly was the site of a Carnegie Mellon University toxicology research facility and a nuclear reactor.

Development there lagged in the aftermath of the 9/11 terroristic attacks and the economic downturn, but activity has picked up in the past year.

Seven of the 19 lots were sold, one was optioned to a company and another three are in negotiation, said David Reese of Commercial Choice Realty, the broker for property owner Laura Developer LLC.

Karndean Designflooring USA, Hays Mechanical and industrial-light manufacturer Chromaglass Inc. are operating in the park.

Sewer-plant contractor Galway Bay is in the midst of building its headquarters in the park and XTO Energy, an oil-and-natural-gas producer, is building an office there.

“The park is well-situated, and, finally, people are realizing that, and we're getting quite a mix in there,” Reese said.

Chris Foreman is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-856-7400, ext. 8671, or cforeman@tribweb.com.

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