A tale of 2 developments: Both generate controversy, each meets a different end

Care home fails to move forward, senior apartments OK’d

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Plans for a controversial new care home for seniors in Mt. Lebanon have been killed, at least for now.

Mt. Lebanon commissioners on Tuesday declined to introduce two ordinances that would have allowed Missouri-based NorthPoint Development to build a 100-bed continuing care home at the busy intersection of Connor Road and Terrace Drive.

Neighbors came out by the dozen last month to let the planning commission know about their objections to the plans, which could not move forward without a zoning amendment that would allow care homes into the residential area. Neighbors expressed concern about traffic and pedestrian safety.

The planning commission split in its support of the project.

Two commissioners who were to introduce approval for the proposal both refused.

“The community has no desire for it,” said Commissioner Stephen McLean, who said he objected to the rezoning proposal and would not introduce it.

A companion ordinance lowering the required acreage necessary for such a site also was not introduced by Commissioner Kelly Fraasch.

Another controversial development was approved by commissioners, despite objections over health concerns.

Commissioners voted 21 to approve the Senior Apartments of Mt. Lebanon site development plan, which calls for a 60unit multi-family building at Castlegate Avenue, near the border with Brookline.

Several Brookline residents and their Pittsburgh CityCouncil representative Natalia Rudiak previously asked commissioners to look into dust and toxic materials emanating from the former DePaul School compound, which is being demolished.

City residents reiterated their concerns Tuesday.

“We are still breathing in the toxins every time the wind blows,” city resident Angela Gaito-Lagnese said. “We don’t know yet how this will affect our health.”

Ms. Fraasch suggested a vote be delayed until meetings between the developer and residents could resolve the conflicts, but Benjamin Kelley, development manager for Oxford Development Co., said the sides had already met numerous times.

“We have done everything in our power to address community concerns,” Mr. Kelley said. “We’ve been good neighbors.”

Mr. Kelley said delaying approval could jeopardize $11 million in funding for the project. And, his company has no control over subcontractors conducting the demolition, Mr. Kelley said.

But Ms. Fraasch was firm in her insistence that the vote be tabled until some of the issues could be ironed out.

“We have heard multiple concerns from residents, and they should be your concerns, too,” she said.

Ms. Fraasch voted against the approval, while Mr. McLean and Commissioner Steve Silverman voted to approve.

Commissioner Dave Brumfield was absent, and Commissioner John Bendel recused himself because he formerly served on the board of the nonprofit organization that owns the property.

Also at the meeting, Andrew Baram, chairman of the environmental sustainability board, resigned, saying he felt commissioners ignored many of the board’s recommendations. well pad instead of the bore hole, Murrysville is effectively increasing the setback distance, which is a victory for those demanding greater protection from the effects of drilling.

But drilling opponents were not pleased with the proposed setback and made their feelings known to council before the vote.

“Tonight’s vote will be called a compromise. It’s not. It is a concession to the gas industry,” resident Alyson Holt told council. “… In the end, you are still permitting an industrial activity in rural residentialzones.”

When a draft of the ordinance was first released in the fall, the proposed setback was 1,000 feet. As public hearings were held, drilling operators and lease holders argued that