Off-leash area to reopen in July

Conditions added following dog attack

The off-leash area for dogs in South Fayette’s Fairview Park will reopen in July for a 90-day probationary period — with new conditions.

Additional signs marking areas where no off-leash dogs are allowed, bright lanyards that show owners are registered with the township, and a thicker buffer zone are new conditions approved by the township commissioners. The boundaries of the dog-run-free zone also will be altered.

The changes, in response to a dog-on-dog attack in the park in 2016, were recommended by the parks and recreation board, a subcommittee created to address recent issues with the park, and township recreation director Paula Simmons.

Commissioners may vote Wednesday on an ordinance that would change the zoning from business to commercial for the area at the entrance of Bursca Park. They voted in April to advertise the ordinance.

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 Inc.

A grocery store is planned for the site, James Scalo, president of Burns & Scalo, said at the March commissioners meeting. Mr. Scalo met with concerned residents to discuss the potential development.

The South Fayette planning commission in January unanimously recommended against approval of the rezoning.

If the ordinance passes, anything that is already a permitted use will not need conditional use approval, but a land development application would need approval.

Township staff is working on a new approach concerning the Southern Beltway connector road, which will run from the beltway to Route 50, after the commissioners voted in February to table the subject of assuming ownership of the beltway connector.

“Our hope is the township would provide annual maintenance while the [turnpike] commission provides longterm maintenance,” township manager Ryan Eggleston said. “In exchange for taking over the annual upkeep, that would also give us jurisdiction over the road permits for any future economic development.”

Discussions with the turnpike commission are ongoing.

The township is working to renew the school resource officer agreement with South Fayette School District.

The district will pay 70 percent of the officer’s salary, and the township will pay 30 percent, Mr. Eggleston said.

“We are delighted and pleased to continue that wonderful cooperative agreement with the district,” he said.