May 5, 2016 3 min read

Rostraver Township commissioners on Wednesday adopted regulations allowing residents to raise chickens at their homes. The amended regulations allow for chickens as an accessory use in the township. In the A-1 agricultural zone, residents need five acres to have roosters and one acre to have hens. Chickens are only permitted as an accessory use to a residence and cannot be placed on a vacant lot.

Chicken coops and runs must be 75 feet from a right-of-way, 25 feet from side and rear property lines and have a one-acre minimum lot width. In single-family residential, suburban residential and multiple family residential areas roosters are prohibited and a one-acre minimum lot is required to have hens.

Chickens must be kept in a coop, chicken pen or fenced area at all times and any structure over 200 square feet requires a permit. Chicken coops, runs or pens are only permitted in the rear yard and must be a minimum of 25 feet from any lot line.

C. Harper Auto will be adding a truck sales and service to its lineup after commissioners unanimously approved a land development plan for Casey H. and Cheryl Harper for the truck center.

Construction is expected to begin within weeks for the 18,787-square-foot truck sales and service building. The proposed building will be off Route 51 on Harper Drive. The center will employ about 20 people and is expected to be in operation this summer.

Supervisors also approved the rezoning of 18 acres on McKenery Drive from agriculture to retail business for the construction of an ambulance station. Rostraver-West Newton Ambulance Service, which is now located at 100 Pleasant Valley Boulevard, has outgrown its facility.

Attorney Chris Huffman, who was representing the ambulance service at the meeting, said that the project is in the beginning stages and no date has been set for construction. The proposed facility will have a larger building and more parking.

Huffman added that the move will be a better fit. “They are currently in a residential area. The new area is right off of Route 51 and will serve the community better,” he explained.

Supervisors approved a $1,700 water line connection fee for the Indian Hill/Daughtery Lane water line project. Residents that have an annual income of $15,000 or less may make payments over a six-year period. The water line project includes about 25 residents.

Supervisors approved the purchase of a 2016 Dodge Charger police cruiser for $28,235 a 2015 Dodge Charger cruiser for $ 27,302 from Tri-Star Motors. The purchase will be made through the state purchasing alliance.