The Valor Clinic Foundation has been deeded land in Kidder Township and is in the beginning stages of building a veterans’ camp and retreat in the township.

Thursday evening, Mark Baylis the founder and CEO of Valor Clinic, addressed the supervisors about the project. The land for the project is located where Route 940 intersects with both Routes 80 and 476. The property is directly across from the Mountain Laurel Resort and Spa, sandwiched in between the westbound lanes of Route 80 and Route 940.

The property in question is zoned commercial. Camps and retreats are not permitted uses on commercial property under the Kidder Township ordinance.

Baylis had submitted a request for the township to rezone the property from commercial to residential. Solicitor Daniel Miscavige, speaking on behalf of the supervisors, made Baylis an offer to amend the ordinance to make camps and retreats a permitted use within a commercial zone rather than make the zoning change.

The supervisors agreed to advertise the amendment.

The retreat will be part of the Veterans Unstoppable program, which holds regular support groups and monthly retreats for veterans in the program.

The program is conducted in three phases that tailor counseling and support to the individual. The steps include reducing social conflict, finding closure to reduce stress and anxiety and finding a direction and purpose in life.

Baylis also operates Paul’s House in Jonas, Monroe County. Paul’s House is a home for homeless veterans and the base of operation for Valor Clinic Foundation.

In other business

The supervisors also agreed to a request by township landowner Paul Montemuro to subdivide a property that will be crossed by the PennEast pipeline. The property is already encumbered by an existing pipeline, which the PennEast pipeline will run adjacent to.

The piece of property resulting from the subdivision will be a nonconforming, nonbuildable lot. By doing so, Montemuro will allow PennEast to take the property by way of eminent domain, which relieves Montemuro of any tax burden for the unusable parcel, and the adjacent property will not be burdened by the pipelines.

The supervisors agreed to Montemuro’s request.

The Lake Harmony Rescue Squad received approval to purchase a “newish” ambulance. Unit 1761 has more than 100,000 miles and needs to be retired. A new ambulance would cost the squad $170,000. Instead of purchasing a new unit, the squad will purchase a new Ford 2018 gasoline, Type 3 chassis and a refurbished Horton box from First Priority Remount. The new unit will cost $107,000.

The supervisors approved the purchase and the release of one-third of the funds for the truck.