Feb 21, 2018 3 min read

During the last 50 plus years, plans have been introduced, and later dropped, for a large residential development in Washington Township, Greene County, in the area known as Waynesburg Lakes.

Some of the proposals have been quite elaborate. Back in 1991, for instance, a developer planned to develop the 600 acres of land just north of Ruff Creek with 332 single-family homes, 167 multi-unit condominiums, tennis courts, a pool and a 230-acre gold course.

The area, which features three small lakes, was deemed desirable because of the then-ongoing construction of Interstate 79, which would make driving easy to areas such as Morgantown, W.Va., Washington, even Pittsburgh.

A handful of homes was built in the area since Waynesburg Lakes was subdivided in the 1960s, but none of the big plans ever materialized. The area lacks both public water and sewage.

“Because the infrastructure was never available, it never took off,” Washington Township Supervisor Walter Stout said.

Last week, the supervisors took steps to begin addressing those issues, voting to enter into an agreement with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority to extend a water line about 4,800 feet from Route 19 into the development.

The new line, which will follow Constance Road and continue in both directions along Shamrock Road, will provide public water to about eight existing homes, but also make water available in the development to another 170 lots along the water line’s path, Stout said.

The township’s recently-completed comprehensive plan identifies Waynesburg Lakes as a prime spot for residential development.

“The supervisors felt a project to extend the water line would be an ideal way to show we are serious about the need for development and for the strengthening of the township’s tax base, while following recommendations contained in the comprehensive plan to keep the township’s rural nature and strong agriculture base,” Stout said.

Waynesburg Lakes needs public water and the extension of a water line there is a step toward that goal, he said.

The township also is developing plans to bring sewage to the area, another need that will be important to attract commercial residential development.

“That will come next, down the road,” Stout said.

The lack of sewage, however, would not prevent someone from purchasing a lot in the area and building a home there using an on-lot sewage system, he said.

Under the agreement with Southwestern Water, the authority will dig the ditch and install the new water line; the township will purchase the materials, backfill the ditch and restore the road surface.

The estimated cost to the township for materials and engineering is $111,133. Stout said the township will use Act 13 money for the project, though it also is seeking grant contributions to defray its costs.

The township hopes the project can be started sometime this spring, though the more exact construction schedule will be up to the water authority, Stout said.