Ross plans fun walk event

Members of Ross’ pedestrian and bicycle committee want to draw people to Ross Park Mall in August, but not just to shop.

Commissioners on Monday approved the committee’s plans to hold a 5K run or 1-mile “fun walk” Aug. 16 at the mall on McKnight Road.

The event will begin at 8 a.m., and the route will be around the perimeter of the mall, down Patrick Drive, then up Cheryl Drive back to the mall, said Ron Faller, a committee member and retired cross country coach at St. Sebastian School.

Mall management donated use of the property and the restrooms in the mall, he said.

Commissioners agreed to front the committee up to $1,000 for advertising the race. The money will be recouped by entry fees, Mr. Faller said. They need 61 entrants to break even. They will also need at least 40 volunteers.

“I really want this to grow, and I want to focus on the kids,” he said.

Commissioner Lana Mazur said the township previously sponsored a 5K race for 20 or 25 years. “We would have 200 runners. It was a huge success,” she said.

In other action, commissioners terminated Dan Hankins, building code inspector, effective immediately. The vote was 7-2, with Jeremy Shaffer, Paul Trilli, Dan DeMarco, Grace Stanko, Lana Mazur, Steve Korbel and Grant Montgomery voting in favor. David Mikec and John Sponcer voted against it.

Mr. Montgomery, commission president, declined to comment on why Mr. Hankins was fired.

Commissioners also approved an ordinance restricting parking from 32 Clarion Drive to the intersection with Simplon Street so that the Fairview Fire Department and residents have enough room to turn safely in case of emergency.

They also discussed changes to the ordinance governing planned residential developments. One of the changes would require that 30 percent of a property’s acreage be set aside as green space, but 10 percent would have to be usable space, such as playgrounds or walking trails. Currently, steep slopes count as green space, even if they could not be used for recreation.

That ordinance will be introduced at the May 18 meeting, and will be voted on in June.