A public hearing for a 172-unit planned residential development in Indiana Township was continued after more than a dozen residents spoke out against it.
The township supervisors approved the continuance after more than two hours of testimony May 13.
Mars-based Weaver Homes is the builder of the planned residential development (PRD) situated at the intersection of Cove Run Road and Field View Lane. Its developer is called Cove Run Road Acquisition LP.
The public hearing, which is a requirement before a township vote on the project, was continued for 6 p.m. June 10 at Town Hall, 3710 Saxonburg Blvd.
People can email questions to township Manager Dan Anderson about the planned residential development through May 21.
Those questions will be submitted to the developer’s team so they are prepared to address those concerns next month.
People also will get a chance to comment at the continued public hearing.
Township Supervisor Jonathan Neuman proposed the continuance as more and more people had questions following a presentation by Brett Schultz, vice president of development for Weaver Homes.
Schultz said the plan is to build 94 single-family homes and 78 townhomes of at least two units each on a 98-acre parcel that is surrounded on three sides by state game lands.
The property also abuts Emmerling Park, which last year doubled in size after the township purchased nearly 60 acres of undeveloped commercially zoned land from D&D Supply.
Single-family home sizes would range from 11,250 square feet to just over 17,800 square feet. Townhomes would range from about 6,700 square feet to more than 11,150 square feet.
It is unclear how much the homes would cost.
Construction would be completed in two phases.
The township’s planning commission has recommended the proposal, which sits in an area zoned for “medium density residential” use.
Jennifer McCracken of Gateway Engineers said she collected traffic data at the Cove Run Road and Field View Lane intersection as well as a few others connected to the development on March 4.
She said the study showed a minimal impact to delays getting in and out of the area.
Resident Leon Banta, a retired Marine, said he is concerned about people hunting in the area about 25 feet from proposed housing and 1,000 yards from him.
“They’re trying very hard to smash that round peg into a square hole,” he said.
His wife, Katie Banta, expressed concerns about the project’s environmental impact.
“This land is a safe haven for wildlife,” she said. “Bears, turtles, bald eagles, foxes, deer, honeybees and countless other species which are steadily losing habitat around us. You can’t ignore that. You all have signed off on some major pieces of property that we have lost.”
Resident Maria Synan expressed traffic concerns with a conservative estimate of 172 cars being added to daily Cove Run Road travel.
“With its blind turns and narrow sections, I worry for the safety of other motorists, for those who frequently walk or bike that road and the many people who enjoy the Rachel Carson Trail,” she said.
“I’m also concerned about the influx of students to the Fox Chapel Area School District, specifically Hartwood Elementary School.
“I feel as though Hartwood is already bursting at the seams, and I don’t know how they will be able to accommodate another development. Especially one of this size.”
Other speakers also addressed increased district enrollment as a result of the development, as well as its proximity to a natural gas well pad and the need for the township to preserve green space.
Schultz said the project meets township ordinances except for three issues.
He requested modifications to increase the maximum liner feet of a cul de sac from 1,200 to 2,740 feet.
The other two modification requests were reducing the maximum front yard setback from 20 feet to 10 feet and permit a small incursion to the 10-feet rear yard setback.
Schultz went on to talk about how clustering townhomes toward the center of the site helped with density, reduced road lengths and maintenance costs to the township.
“We’ve designed this site in such a manner to achieve its highest and best use of the land while staying under that existing base zone density of two-units per acre,” Schultz said. “We are at 1.8, OK.”
There are seven areas in the development designated for stormwater management.
Township engineer Dan Slagle said the proposed development meets all ordinance requirements outside of those requested modifications.
He explained the front yard setback change was due to a planning commission request of changing a private road into a public street and extending its width.
Resident Nattie Owens questioned the proposed housing plan’s placement. She believes it may attract young families despite not having a public play space.
She also echoed other speakers’ concerns about its environmental impact and traffic.
“I don’t understand how this is an ideal spot for development,” Owens said.
More than a dozen residents spoke at the podium against the development.
State Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Fox Chapel, attended the hearing but did not testify.
“Sprawl causes real harm in communities from an environmental, economic and infrastructure perspective,” Steele said after the meeting. “I am concerned at the pace of development in Indiana Township, which is a rural community. I question whether this is in the best interest of the taxpayers, including those beyond the township’s borders. Development needs to be carefully and thoughtfully planned out with community input, not a mad grab for cash by big developers.”
People can review the PRD plan at the township office.
Attorney Donald Graham of the Cranberry-based firm Dillon McCandless King Coulter & Graham also represented the developer.
He and members of the developer’s team declined to comment after the hearing.
The township supervisors also declined to comment.
Deputy Mayor Albert Kaan said he expects to see another packed house in June.
“Hopefully, we can get all the issues resolved that the public talked about,” Kaan said.