Another rezoning sought at entry to business park
South Fayette will hold a public hearing on the latest rezoning request from the owners of property at the entrance to Bursca Business Park, who are asking that the zoning of the site be changed from business to commercial.
“We are proposing to redevelop the entire entranceway into the park as commercial uses,” James Scalo, president of Burns & Scalo Real Estate Services Inc., wrote in a Nov. 16 letter to the township.
The property — 6.6 acres on the east side of Washington Pike and the south side of Bursca Drive — is owned by Bursca Frontgate LP, an affiliate of Burns & Scalo Real Estate Services.
The South Fayette planning commission unanimously recommended against approval of the rezoning on Jan. 26.
A public hearing on the request will be held at 7 p.m. March 15 at the township commissionersvotingmeeting.
In 2016, Burns & Scalo asked that two other properties along Washington Pike at the entrance of the Bursca Business Park be changed from business and residential to commercial for a proposed retail strip center. The commissioners approved the rezoning. Local residents protested the change.
The letter requesting the latest zoning change did not provide details of what is planned for the property but noted that its current business zoning does not permit commercial development and that the requested commercial zoning would match the intent of the township’s comprehensive plan.
The commissioners Feb. 15 unanimously approved a request from Horizon Properties LLC to extend the due diligence period in its sales agreement for the former Star City Cinemas property. Horizon requested an extension through Oct. 31.
“As you know, we remain in the process of addressing environmental issues on the property,” Leslie A. Peters, attorney for Horizon, wrote in a Feb. 8 letter to township manager Ryan Eggleston.
The Star City parcel, at the Interstate 79 and Route 50 interchange near Washington Pike, was once a part of the former Mulach Steel Corp. site. The property is undergoing remediation efforts led by Horizon before the developer can move forward with plans for a hotel and offices there. South Fayette Hotel LP, a division of Horizon, is slated to buy the land from the township for $5 million.
Commissioners also voted Feb. 15 to table a decision on whether to take possession of the Southern Beltway connector road, which runs from the beltway to Route 50.
The turnpike commission is responsible for the beltway, but the township can choose to assume ownership of the connector road.
“There are positives and negatives,” Mr. Eggleston said. “We will be responsible for upkeep and maintenance costs such as plowing, salting and repairing. But we would also be in charge of occupancy permits for future development, instead of the turnpike commission or PennDot. We would be the grantors, and that would make it a less stringent paperwork process.”
The vote on the matter is expected March 15. Staff is researching the cost of maintenance and upkeep.