Residents concerned about gas station plan

Council to consider Cool Springs request

Bethel Park Council will hold a special meeting July 22 when it will consider a request from the operator of Cool Springs sports complex to rezone a portion of the sprawling recreational and residential complex so it can build a gas station and convenience store on the property.

The development would be located on Cool Springs Drive, a road that runs through the complex from Hamilton Road and to Baptist Road.

Several residents of Cool Springs Drive spoke at Monday’s council meeting in opposition to rezoning of the property and the potential gas station that could be built on it.

The property is owned by Cool Springs Associates, a division of Penn Cove Capital Group of Pittsburgh and is currently zoned for a golf driving range/ miniature golf course.

The rezoning request was submitted by American Natural Retail Pa., a Pittsburgh- based company that operates two similar gas station, and convenience stores in the Pittsburgh region.

Resident Tim Enright was concerned about increased traffic on his road.

“Cool Springs Drive is about 22 feet wide,” he said, adding when fuel trucks and trucks delivering food to the convenience store travel on the road it will render it to “essentially a one- lane road.”

He also is concerned about the number of cars that will be on the road to get to the gas station.

“They all have to go on Cool Springs Drive. There’s no way our road could handle that kind of traffic,” Mr. Enright said.

Jean Enright added that they just moved to their home at the end of May and “we didn’t know anything about this when we moved in.”

Ms. Enright, a nurse, was concerned about potential health risks that the gas station could pose, stating that noise and light pollution from the store could cause stress and other health problems for residents who are trying to sleep.

John Ackerman of Cool Springs Drive added that there are only 25 housing units on the street.

“Most of us are a little older and want a quiet place to live out our lives,” he said. “We oppose the rezoning of the property to allow a retailer to come in and sell gasoline,” he said.

Andrea Feinstein, executive vice president of American Natural, said the company believes American Natural is a good fit for the Cool Springs site.

“American Natural pursues developments in locations that would benefit the neighborhood community by providing alternative fueling and eating options that are not traditionally provided by other retailers,” Ms. Feinstein said.

She said 75% to 80% of traffic to- and- from this type of zoning use is “passby traffic” meaning the vehicles accessing the site are already on the road.

“The proposed rezoning simply is an extension of the existing commercial corridor adjacent to the site and located across Baptist Road,” she said. “The proposed fueling station and convenience store is consistent with the intended mixed- use development of Cool Springs.

The special meeting to consider the rezoning request will be held at 7: 45 p. m. July 22 in council chambers.