Nov 25, 2015 By Harry Funk 2 min read

The Mt. Lebanon Planning Board has granted preliminary approval for a land development application that could pave the way for condominiums at Washington and Bower Hill roads.

At its Nov. 24 meeting, the board also approved consolidation of three lots at the site as requested by owner Zamagias Properties. The total area, about 2 acres, represents land that Zamagias bought in 2007 plus two smaller lots purchased within the past two years.

Plans for Mt. Lebanon Condominiums call for a 46-unit residential complex that also abuts Kenmont Avenue and Oak Way.

In October, the planning board tabled the land development application and gave conditional approval to the lot consolidation, subject to further information being provided by the property owner.

Since then, plans have been revised to eliminate a proposed entrance to the complex off Bower Hill Road, according to architect Steven Victor, representing Zamagias. In reviewing the plans, municipal engineers noted that the entry’s 15 percent grade would exceed the municipal limit of 12 percent.

“We’ve deleted that access,” Victor told the board. “It’s not necessary.”

The main entry and exit would be from Kenmont Avenue, with another exit onto Oak Way.

Resident Timothy Rogers questioned how close the exit would be to his property on Oak, which he estimated to be about 2.5 feet away.

Victor said plans call for the egress to be right next to the property line, and that vehicles would be able to make right turns only.

“That will make it limited to the number of homeowners who would like to use that,” he said.

According to information provided at previous planning board meetings, the development is to entail seven townhouses and 39 single-story units contained within four larger buildings, all of which are three stories. Square footage would vary from about 1,400 to 1,600 for the smaller units, to 2,200 for the townhouses, with price estimates at between the high $300,000s and high $500,000s.

Zamagias still must submit a final land development application, which could come before the planning board in January. The board then would make a recommendation to the Mt. Lebanon Commission for a vote on final approval.