READING, Pa. – Reading City Council on Monday night did not have any ordinances to consider as part of its voting agenda, but it did introduce two significant ordinances for consideration in two weeks.

One of them, if approved, would allow the city to sell the former Dana Corp. property to C&B Development LLC for $5 million.

The site, which spans about 50 acres, has been vacant for more than two decades.

“Those that have been here for a while may be aware that the Dana site was a former manufacturing plant that departed back in the early 2000s,” said Reading Mayor Eddie Moran. “And we’re talking about 50 acres of land that has stayed still or without any usage for over 20 years.”

Moran says the proposed buyer wants to build industrial, warehouse, manufacturing and retail space on the property.

“That’s going to give the opportunity of having anywhere between 200 estimated — 225 to 330 permanent employment opportunities — as well as 300 construction jobs during the construction period,” Moran said. “Once it’s fully operational, potential 2 million (dollar) tax income for the City of Reading.”

City Council President Donna Reed said the property has been waiting for development for a long time.

“Finally, we have a very good organization that’s interested in it that pretty much is a proven developer that has a business plan and strategy planned out at this point that’s interacted with the city, worked with the city, and we’re pleased,” Reed said.

Council typically does not discuss proposed ordinances at the time it introduces them into the record, but it will have the opportunity to discuss it next Monday during a Committee of the Whole meeting. The body could vote on the proposed sale in about two weeks.

GoggleWorks rezoning

Another ordinance proposed Monday night would amend the city’s zoning map to rezone parcels at 229, 2243 and 245 Washington St. at GoggleWorks from R-3 Residential to the C-C Commercial Core district.

Last week, council heard an evidentiary hearing to consider the change, which was being requested by Our City Reading to include all parcels of the GoggleWorks building into the same zoning district.

Appointment of former fire chief

In other business on Monday, council voted to appoint James Stoudt Jr. to the Fire Civil Service Board.

Stoudt retired as fire chief earlier this year.

Members of the nominations committee praised Stoudt for applying for the position just days after his retirement.