Upper St. Clair commissioners approve Boyce Mayview perimeter trail installation
During their Sept. 6 regular meeting, Upper St. Clair commissioners approved a $1.4 million contract for perimeter trail installation at Boyce Mayview Park, with Ronald Pardini voting against the measure.
The base bid for the southern extension of the perimeter trail, which runs from Ardolino’s restaurant to the Upper St. Clair Community Gardens along Boyce Road, is $606,050. A bid for the project’s Alternate 1 component, the reforestation of the southern perimeter trail area, is $26,000, and Alternate 3, sign installation, is $3,000.
The base bid for installing the perimeter trail along the southern portion of Morton Road, which runs from the Community Gardens to Rostron Drive, is $794,250. Also taken into consideration is a 2 percent reduction of $28,586 for total award to a single bidder for the two trails.
The township received a $250,000 state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant for the southern extension and a $200,000 Department of Community and Economic Development Greenways, Trails and Recreation grant for the Morton Trail, along with $30,000 in Allegheny Regional Asset District capital funds. The balance of the project, $920,714, would come from township contributions.
Howard Zelik of Shenandoah Drive told commissioners that $1.4 million seems “way out of line.”
“Free money from the state isn’t free. It’s our money, too,” said Zelik. “Give the taxpayer a break.”
Zelik said the money proposed for the perimeter trail would be better spent fixing and improving the township’s sidewalks and catch basins.
Mark Christie , board president, responded to Zelik by explaining that the perimeter trail is part of the master plan for Boyce Mayview Park, with future plans to tie the system in to the Montour Trail.
“None of us take spending this amount of money lightly,” said Christie.
Also taking place during the Sept. 6 meeting was a public hearing for the rezoning of 1320 Mayview Road from C-1, Neighborhood Commercial District and R-L1, Low Intensity Residential District to R-3, Medium Density Residential District.
Steven Victor of Victor-Wetzel Associates of Sewickly presented a proposal for the property that included 35 townhomes on a private road, with a single point of access onto Mayview Road.
The public hearing will be continued at the board’s Oct. 3 meeting to allow time for review by township staff members.
In other business, the board approved the Morrow Road bridge replacement project acquisition of right of way by the state Department of Transportation. PennDOT is offering the township $9,600 for a 2,965-square-foot right-of-way area and a temporary construction easement of 2,489 square feet. The project tentatively is scheduled for the next summer.