Feb 20, 2013 2 min read

North Strabane Township supervisors assured a concerned group of homeowners that they will thoroughly evaluate plans for a new residential development off McDowell Lane before making any final decision.

At a public hearing Tuesday night, approximately 30 residents from the Glencannon and McClelland Farms housing plans expressed concern about a plan by Bove Development Corp. of Bethel Park to build a new residential development consisting of 52 single-family homes and four duplex units on 35.96 acres.

The proposed plan sits between the Glencannon and McClelland Farms housing plans.

In order to build the plan, however, the developers need the supervisors to waive township requirements for a housing plan to have two entrances.

Developer Terry Bove said the plan’s only entrance is along McDowell Lane. The only viable means for a second entrance would be to connect to Deerfield Drive, but that is not possible without violating the township’s right-of-way requirements.

Project engineer Mike Salai, of Windridge Engineering, said the single access is because of limited frontage on McDowell Lane.

The additional traffic that the new plan will bring on McDowell Lane was one of the concerns expressed by the residents.

“That road just can’t handle it,” said Jeff Carter of 415 McDowell Lane, who told supervisors that there have been 12 accidents in front of his house over recent years.

Robert Pirillo of 382 Martha Drive and Kevin and Pam Jones of 274 Village Drive expressed concern about water runoff from the new development.

Both Pirillo and the Joneses said their property is already prone to flooding and want the developer to assure them things won’t get worse.

Bove responded by explaining that a retention pond will be built near their properties to collect stormwater and release it at a slower rate to prevent flooding. He also emphasized that the pond must be approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection and the township.

Township manager Frank Siffrinn told the crowd that the plan is “still a work in progress” and the supervisors are currently considering only a conditional use for the single entrance. The developer will have to return to the supervisors for approval of subdivisions and a final plan.

The supervisors are expected to issue their decision at next week’s meeting.