Body shop developers offer additional conditions, but no reprieve for upset Murrysville neighbors

More than 250 Manordale Farms residents in Murrysville signed a petition in opposition to an auto body shop proposed for a neighboring property.

The petition was presented to council members at this past week’s meeting. Attorneys for the municipality and developer, however, told council that Caliber Collision’s proposal is a permitted use for the business zoned property.

“The absolute most unpleasant part of development is upsetting neighbors,” said attorney Bill Sittig, representing Victory Development, the Texas company seeking to build a Caliber location just east of the Manordale Farms subdivision.

“But I don’t think any lawyer would dispute that, from a legal standpoint, there’s no real discretion other than approving this,” Sittig said before adding that his client is willing to abide by additional conditions for the property.

Manordale Farms residents have come out staunchly in opposition to the proposal.

“The noise, the traffic, the dirt, the smells, it’s all relevant,” Troy Smith said. “This is going to be 100 feet from my back porch. Nobody wants it. We have a good, clean community. Go somewhere across the highway or down the street. Don’t put it up in our backyards.”

Several residents bemoaned what will be the loss of much of the wooded area adjacent to the subdivision.

“It seems like green space,” Sittig said. “But it’s not zoned that way. My clients are making a business decision. We’ve voluntarily agreed to go beyond Murrysville’s ordinances to make the project as good as it can be.”

Residents also pointed to the state of the Caliber Collision in New Kensington, which is much more akin to a junkyard than the clean operation outlined in Caliber’s presentation to Murrysville.

“There was a lack of oversight there,” said Mark DeGarie, Caliber’s vice president of construction and facilities for the eastern U.S. “As soon as we found out about it, we went out there, and we’re going to address it. I have the autonomy to do that.”

DeGarie went into detail about the third-party contractors who handle any hazardous waste the business generates, as well as storage and containment for any fluids.

“Today’s cars are engineered to collapse and break, so nearly all the solvent and fluids from vehicles are emptied at the crash scene,” DeGarie said.

Residents and council members agreed that PennDOT’s rejection of the need for a traffic study — based on William Penn Highway’s 45 mph speed limit — is short-sighted and not based in reality.

“When I’m turning right into Berkshire Drive, I have to get off the highway onto the rumble strips because there’s someone right on my rear,” Manordale Farms resident Art Probola said. “If you’re going to have trucks doing the same thing 200 feet down the road, I’m concerned about accidents.”

Councilwoman Jamie Lingg agreed.

“We drive that road, and no one is going 45 mph,” Lingg said. “I don’t really care what PennDOT says about whether it’s safe. I know it’s not safe.”

“You may not agree with what PennDOT has decided, but it’s a legal driveway,” Sittig said. “Can we improve it? Let’s talk about it. PennDOT will tell you that (speeding) is an enforcement issue. The road is designed and posted for 45 mph.”

Sittig offered the following additional conditions:

• Bay doors where work is taking place would be closed at all times unless a vehicle is being brought into the shop.

• No mechanical repairs will take place unless they are directly related to the body work in which the shop specializes.

• No parts will be stored outdoors.

• Cars will be stored either indoors or in a parking space along the proposed fence line.

Victory officials also granted council a waiver until April 5 to take a final vote on the project.

Sittig and Murrysville solicitor Adam Long made it clear what that vote is very likely to be.

“This is in the (business) district, and ‘vehicle repair garage’ is a permitted use,” Long said. “That means council’s power to place conditions on it is extremely limited.”

Council President Dayne Dice said municipal officials should take advantage of Sittig’s offer to agree to additional conditions beyond what Murrysville’s zoning laws require.

“I’m recognizing the gravity in what Mr. Sittig has offered,” Dice said. “I think we give it two weeks and see if staff can come up with other conditions worth considering.”

Council voted unanimously to table a vote until its April 5 meeting. That will be at 7 p.m. at the Murrysville municipal building, 4100 Sardis Road.