North Strabane to decide on residential development
Developers of a planned residential development are back in North Strabane Township, attempting to construct a first-of-its-kind senior living facility there.
Laurel Communities and Presbyterian SeniorCare submitted a conditional-use application for Laurel Landing, a mixed-residential development that would consist of 90 single-family dwellings, 41 townhouse units and 70 apartments on McDowell Lane in an R-3 residential district.
A public hearing Tuesday on the application was completed and the board of supervisors are scheduled to vote on the application at 7 p.m. Tuesday during the legislative meeting.
The developers, owners of a 57-acre site near Canonsburg Lake, have been before township officials several times in an attempt to move forward.
In January, the planning commission voted down a recommendation to approve adding the definition of senior garden apartments to the current zoning ordinance. Developers then came back and asked the commission to increase the maximum stories for senior garden apartments from three to four. The commission denied that recommendation, but supervisors approved the request in April.
After developers changed the two access points from McDowell Lane to one on McDowell and one on Skyview Drive, the planning commission voted to recommend the project at their Aug. 15 meeting.
Plans include a four-story senior apartment building for those 55 and older, townhouses and single-family villas.
A traffic study was done by the developer and will be presented to supervisors by the end of the week. The development would occur in four phases, starting in 2017 with construction of half the villas. Townhomes, the other half of the villas and the apartment building would be built next.
If supervisors approve the application, the developer would have to return for final approval.
The plan includes the ability for owners of neighboring homes who currently rely on septic tanks to tie into the development’s sewer system.
Township manager Frank Siffrinn said there is a need for senior housing in the area.