The 2010 proposed millage rate remains the same as 2009’s at 3.84 mills. The 2009 budget was $8,710,137.

At a public hearing held Dec. 14, South Fayette Township Manager Mike Hoy presented the numbers to commissioners for consideration. He said the budget has been submitted to the commissioners for final review and approval at its next meeting.

No changes are proposed to the township’s 2010 Act 511 taxation rates. The earned income tax will remain at 1 percent. The municipal services tax will remain at $52, with $47 going to the township and $5 to the South Fayette School District. The real estate transfer tax will also remain the same at 1 percent.

In other business at the meeting, Sam Depe III, owner of Hickory Heights Golf Club spoke to commissioners concerning the proposed ordinance to rezone various properties to Conservation District (CD-1). Currently, the golf course is zoned R-2, but is on a list of properties the township is considering rezoning to CD-1.

He told commissioners, “To selectively rezone us is unfair,” citing that many of the other proposed properties are cemeteries or parks, not for-profit businesses.

Depe, who has owned the golf club for approximately one year, said his business is “flourishing” and he has “no plans to develop Hickory Heights (golf course).” Depe said to redevelop the golf course land may not be possible because of the hills, valleys and wetlands there. He added that it’s already developed – as a golf course. “I’m going to leave it a golf course,” Depe said, adding, “I want to be a part of South Fayette Township.”

However, Depe said that if in 20 years golf becomes unpopular, he may want to do something else with the land. Depe said if his property is rezoned he wouldn’t be able to develop a house for himself or put condominiums on the land because of the three-acre lot size regulation under CD-1. He said being rezoned could affect his borrowing capacity. “It may make the golf course lose 75 to 80 percent of its value,” by rezoning the land, Depe said. “Don’t make my land worth 75 to 80 percent less than it is now,” he added.

Commissioner Sue Caffrey told Depe, “Zoning is always a hard decision.” She said that if Hickory Heights Golf Course is rezoned to CD-1 and Depe eventually wants to develop it, he could come to the commissioners at that time and request it to be rezoned again. Depe said that if the property would remain the same as it is now, that could all be avoided.

Caffrey said that zoning allows for development to be created in a planned way in which the school district and the community can support it.

Township solicitor Jonathan Kamin added that the CD-1 zoning ordinance would not impact the ability to run a gold course.