Dec 20, 2018 3 min read

North Strabane Township supervisors Tuesday agreed to gather additional testimony from opponents of two proposals by developers that would add more than 250 new dwellings to McDowell Lane.

Supervisors voted unanimously to table a vote on the projects – a plan for 52 townhouses and a 202-unit senior housing facility, both on McDowell Lane – for which Upper St. Clair-based Laurel Communities sought conditional-use approval, drawing widespread opposition from those already living in the growing area.

The supervisors tabled the projects at the recommendation of township solicitor Gary Sweat, who recommended reopening the record of the conditional-use hearing on the plans in light of letters from two nearby residents – Alan Errett of Indian Ridge Drive and Allan Bullard of the Sunset Pointe neighborhood – who requested the opportunity to present their case.

Both men asked the supervisors to apply the timeline outlined in the township code that gives them up to 100 days from the date of the first hearing – which was held on Nov. 20 – to present their objections.

Terry Bove, a Bethel Park developer who’s involved in Laurel Communities’ plans, didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment Wednesday.

Sweat said he wasn’t suggesting waiting the full 100 days to vote on the plans, but recommended supervisors hold another hearing to allow for “additional testimony, not a rehash of the testimony we heard, and any expert opinions or reports that (residents) want the board to consider.”

The projects Laurel described in its applications would be on about 70 acres on McDowell Lane currently owned by a Colorado-based trust, according to county records. The senior housing facility would be built by Presbyterian Senior Care, a not-for-profit based out of Allegheny County.

Officials didn’t immediately schedule another hearing.

In addition to the November hearing, supervisors heard testimony from the the developers and residents again on Dec. 11. Among the residents’ objections were concerns that, especially with additional housing construction planned elsewhere on McDowell, the developments would create further traffic hazards.

The plans drew widespread opposition from people already living in the area of the proposed developments. A petition asking supervisors to deny approval to the senior facility, as proposed, gathered 190 signatures from the Sunset Pointe, Indian Ridge and Foxchase neighborhoods.

One group of people living nearby sent township officials a letter asking them to review the latest revisions of the plans, including a geotechnical report and traffic study.

“We’re happy with the delay, and we’re going to have the reports reviewed by other professionals in the industry,” said Charles Hytla of Indian Ridge, a member of that group, on Wednesday.

In other action, supervisors voted unanimously to approve the 2019 township budget, which manager Andy Walz said had undergone “no changes” since officials proposed it in October. Officials intend to fund the $14.2 million spending plan for the general and special funds without any increase in property taxes, which are currently set at 1.03 mills.