Council OKs site plans for residential development

Juniper Woods will include 60 homes

Peters council on Monday approved by a 5-2 vote final site plans for Juniper Woods, a 30-acre residential development off Thompsonville Road.

Council members James Berquist, Frank Kosir Jr., David Ball, Robert Lewis and Gary Stiegel Jr. voted to approve the site plans. Frank Arcuri and Monica Merrell voted no. Mr. Arcuri and Ms. Merrell also voted against the preliminary plans in October.

The development will have lots for 60 homes in the $350,000 to $500,000 range and is being developed by Rywood LLC. The property is zoned low density residential and is included in the conservation residential overlay district. About 9.3 acres of the parcel will be set aside as open space land.

The final plans propose a new local road connection to Thompsonville Road and a connection to Manor Way, which will provide access to the Beacon Manor and Marella Manor neighborhoods.

Access to these neighborhoods currently is restricted and motorists and emergency responders have to leave Peters and reenter through Upper St. Clair.

Peters is working with Manor Way property owners to design a connection that yields the least impact to the area. Manor Way currently is a no-outlet street.

Before the vote, resident Joe Delisio of Manor Way voiced his concerns about a possible connection to the new development via Manor Way. He asked that council table any approval “until all stipulations are complied with” regarding the road extension.

Mr. Delisio said he was worried that the connecting road could cause more speeding, an increase in car accidents and decreased safety along Manor Way.

Last October, when preliminary plans were approved, representatives from the developer’s engineering firm, Civil and Environmental Consultants, stated that the developer would pay for the connecting road, which would be about 0.64 miles of new road, but the township would have to obtain all permits.

Township Manager Paul Lauer said at that time if the connection was not made, the 60-lot plan would only have one way in and one way out and no opportunity for that to be changed in the future.

Township emergency responders have said the interconnection would cut down on response time and also help the public works crew in the winter.

“They think this connection is critical,” Mr. Lauer said at Monday’s meeting.

The township has been in negotiations with adjacent property owners for the right-of-way to put in the road.

According to an opinion written by John Smith, township solicitor, Peters has the right and the responsibility over Manor Way as it sits, but may need to seek approval from existing homeowners abutting Manor Way for any extension to the existing roadway that would encroach further on their properties.

Mr. Berquist said council is “adamant that where we can, we will have connecting roads” in new developments.