Paintball facility proposed in Hopewell

[Grendel]

Paintball facility proposed in Hopewell
Michael Pound, Times Staff
03/27/2007

HOPEWELL, PA TWP. - Hopewell Township officials are considering an addition to the township's industrial park - in part, for a decidedly nonindustrial use.
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A Hopewell businessman plans to build a tournament-level paintball facility in what would be a 63-acre addition to the park, off Route 151 at the southern end of the township.

Doug Kaleugher took his proposal before the township's planning commission last week and was met with a positive response, Jeff Winkle, the township's director of planning and development, said.

Winkle said Kaleugher proposed two changes at last week's township planning commission meeting - rezoning a 63-acre parcel adjacent to the existing Hopewell Industrial Park from residential to the township's industrial park designation, and changing the language of the zoning ordinance to allow recreational uses in industrial park zones.

"The planning commission went ahead and recommended approval for the rezoning request," Winkle said. "The request for the amendment was continued until the (April 26) meeting, but it looked to me that everyone would be agreeable to the new language."

Both changes must be approved by the township commissioners, Winkle said.

Jacqueline Mazza, president of Mazza Engineering in Center Township and Kaleugher's engineer for the project, said the paintball facility would consist of two indoor arenas - one for tournament-level play and one for recreational use - an outdoor competition area and support functions, such as a pro shop.

"There is a facility in Cranberry Township, but there aren't many others like this around here," Mazza said. "It would be a pretty nice facility."

As for the rest of Kaleugher's property, the development would consist mostly of warehouse space for the Med-Fast Pharmacy stores Kaleugher owns.

"He's in need of warehouse space for that business," Mazza said. "He also owns National Sign, and would consolidate that business there as well."

Mazza said if all the necessary township approvals fall in line, her client could be starting construction in about four months.

Winkle said the paintball facility would be unusual - but welcome.

"It's a unique thing, and I think we'd be happy to have it in the township," he said.

Michael Pound can be reached online at mpound@timesonline.com.

WHAT THE HECK IS PAINTBALL?

According to paintball.com, paintball is a team game in which players are eliminated by being shot with paintballs, small gelatin capsules filled with paint, shot from gas-powered guns.

In its organized form, paintball has professional leagues and several variations of the game; it is also played at the recreational level.

The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association says there are more than 10 million paintball players in the United States.

©Beaver County Times Allegheny Times 2007