USC recognizes National Library Week
Upper St. Clair commissioners opened their April 3 regular meeting by declaring April 9-15 as National Library Week in Upper St. Clair.
Commissioner Dan Paoly presented Library Director Helen Palascak with a proclamation marking the occasion. Palascak thanked the board and informed them of some of the new activities underway at the library, which include expansion of children’s programs, STEM group activities for younger children, new activities for teens, an emphasis on crafts for all age groups, and increased adult offerings.
“We’re looking beyond the traditional role of a library to meet our patrons’ needs,” said Palascak.
During the public hearing portion of the meeting, the board voted 5-0 to approve nonresidential conditional use to allow two restaurants to be located within 400 feet of another restaurant for 145 McMurray Road, the site of Dunkin Donuts. The applicant, Michael Orie, plans to open a Baskins Robbins store adjacent to Dunkin Donuts. Orie expects the ice cream store sometime during the summer of 2017.
The board heard testimony at the initial public hearing for unified conditional use preliminary and final land development approval for 1353, 1355, 1357 and 1361 McLaughlin Run Road. The applicant, Thomas A. Robinson Family, LLC is seeking to consolidate the four lots into one lot, add an addition to the existing commercial building, and repave the parking lot.
Testimony was heard at the initial public hearing for a zoning map amendment to rezone properties at 1345, 1351, 1365, 1371, 1373, 1377 McLaughlin Run Road and 1322 Cook School Road from RM Restricted Light Industrial District and R-LI Low Intensity Residential District to RM Restricted Light Industrial District. The township filed the application to mitigate future issues that could arise from split zoning in the corridor.
During the initial public hearing for tentative approval of Friendship Village Planned Residential Development Phase VI, the board heard plans for a three-phase development of an assisted living/memory support building, skilled nursing building, and independent living building at 1290 Boyce Road.
Phase 1 calls for construction of 50 assisted living units and 32 memories support units, phase 2 plans are for 89 skilled nursing beds, which would replace the current 89 skilled nursing beds, and phase 3 includes an additional 80 residential living suites, depending on market demand.
Dan Ruffing, owner of Frosty Valley Golf Course, raised questions about the outflow of a planned stormwater retention pond that was part of Friendship Village PRD Phase VI. He said the current stormwater pond dumps on to his property and asked where the new outflow was going to go. Engineers are to provide more information to township officials regarding the retention pond prior to the next public hearing.
The board voted to continue all three public hearings May 1.
Also during the April 3 meeting, the board established June 5 as the public hearing date regarding an amendment to the township code entitled “Special Business – Mixed Use District” to remove the requirement for street lights along residential streets. The amendment would relate to the residential portion of Sienna at St. Clair. The business area of the development would still have street lights, as would the intersection of Sienna Drive and Lucca Lane. The change would affect the residential portion of 12 townhomes and 21 patio homes.