Residents concerned about potential South Fayette rezoning
Map by Mike Benton, South Fayette Township director of engineering and planning, shows the location of the property for which rezoning has been requested.
South Fayette commissioners hear comment during the May 11 meeting.
A public hearing about the possible rezoning of several parcels along Washington Pike in South Fayette Township drew comment from residents who are concerned about new development.
South Fayette commissioners held the hearing during their May 11 meeting, addressing a request to change the zoning from R-2, Suburban Residential, to C-1, Limited Commercial.
Residents of Freedom Drive South, near the property in question, claim that they already are subjected to the effects of nearby businesses, and they are worried about the effects of new commercial establishment and resulting increases in traffic.
Denise Graham – daughter of the property owner, Catherine Rosi – said that a commercial entity, a small farm stand, has been on the property for decades. She believes that the property was incorrectly rezoned as residential from commercial in 2000, and the family didn’t learn of the change until 2005.
The township planning commission in April recommended approval of the rezoning to C-1, but commissioners tabled the issue following the hearing and will revisit it at their June meeting.
In other business May 11:
Joseph Horowitz, board of commissioners president, proposed the creation of an economic development committee to address residents’ concerns aside from public hearings. He said he has been in contact with the school district to discuss South Fayette’s economic development and its impact in the community.
Horowitz also brought up the desire to have more time to consider zoning requests and that it may be time for the board to consider a comprehensive rezoning.
• Two new police patrolmen, Collin Griffith and Michael Benny, were made full-time officers following their one-year probationary period.
“I think they’re both huge assets to this township and doing a surprisingly good job for guys who have been on the force for such a short time,” Horowitz said. “We’re lucky to have them.”
• The board also approved the hiring of Markus Buchanan as an additional patrolman on probation.